Bob Rocio re Pata Massacre:

The writer of this article should have made a thorough research before publishing it because of some discrepancies in his story. I was the Signal Officer of 1/1 Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division when the incident took place at Pata island on Feb 12, 1981.

1. The whole 31 IB under Lt Col Jacinto “Jack” Sardual was already on-board the PN’s LST anchored at Jolo wharf for retraining in Fort Magsaysay when Col Rodolfo Canieso, CO, 3/1 Inf Bde directed them to proceed to Pata island with the main objective of disarming a CHDF commander by the name of Kumander Unad.

2. There were persistent reports from the different intelligence units in Sulu that Kumander Unad and his 150 men for several occasions were reinforcing the MNLF during heavy engagements with the Tabak soldiers. This prompted Col Canieso to issue orders directing the 31IB to disarm Kumander Unad and his men and turn the confiscated FAs in to DISCOM (Div Spt Comd).

3. Kumander Unad was fully aware of the mission of the 31 IB, thus he had already devised plans for execution in the event Lt Col Sardual will insist on disarming him and his men.

4. Kumander Unad and his men successfully carried out the plan by treacherously killing 119 officers and men of 31 IB including Lt Col Sardual.

5. The bodies recovered in the engagement area were over 160. It goes to show that the 31 IB were able to fight back killing more than 40 men of Kumander Unad.

6. It took time and effort to identify the personnel of 31IB, until the dental records had been sent by the Dental detachment. But the problem still did exist as about 20 percent did not have dental records.

7. Lt Col Sardual is NOT a Dental Officer! He was a graduate of BS Dentistry but he flanked in the board exam. So, he took up a 6 – month Probationary Officer Course in Fort Magsaysay and was CAD (Called to Active Duty) as an INFANTRY Officer!

8. When I took up NCO Leadership Course at the Philippine Army School Center in 1974, then Captain Sardual was our Senior Tactical Officer and instructor on the following subjects: a. Troop Leading Procedure b. Map Readingc. Markmanship Training (He was a rifle expert)d. Overlay Techniques

9. The unit tasked by BGen Luga (CG, IID) to orchestrate the operations at Pata island to get Kumander Unad dead or alive was 1/1 Infantry Brigade, where the TCP (Tactical Command Post) was immediately established at Dongdong island, just 2 kms from Pata island. Another island near Pata and Dongdong is Patian island.
Here’s the Commander and Staff of TCP of 1/1 Infantry Brigade at Dongdong island.
Col Rodolfo R Tolentino (PMA Cl 1956) – Bde ComdrCaptain Santiago “Sonny” Prejido – Opns Offr1Lt Nur Askalani (PMA Cl 1977)- Intel Offr 1Lt Bob – Signal Officer1Lt Tinga-raan Macaraya – HQs Comdt and Mess Offr Elements of 2nd Howitzer Bn.

Units involved in the operation at Pata island which lasted for over a month, namely: 4IB, 5IB, 10IB, 14IB, 18IB, 24IB, 28IB (provided by 4ID), 32IB, 33IB, 39IB (provided by 3ID), 43IB and 44IB