Morales:

I had the chance to talk to those who were in the follow up operations after the massacre. According to some survivors – and this becomes hearsay – they watched as some of the survivors were GLEEFULLY finished off by the civilians – women and children included. In the Jolo that I know, there was no such thing as a non-combatant. I have seen this phenomenon personally when a young boy, accosted along a trail we were blocking in Patikul lunged at a soldier with the intent of harming the latter. This is the Tausug culture I remember. But that was more than 40 years ago. In this incident in Pata, the 31is IB was backloading because the operation had already terminated. The local Special Para Military Force (SPMF) contingent insisted on making a departure call on the BatCom, who – due to an unforgivable lapse by HPA – happened to be a dentist. Allowed to enter the CP with arms, the SPMF band then held the Bn Staff hostage and demanded that he call the battalion to formation and for the men to lay down their arms. Being good soldiers, most of the men did, but not all. WIth the mass of soldiers thus disarmed and vulnerable, the SPMF band, having positioned themselves for maximum fields of fire, proceeded to mow down the defenseless soldiers. Those who held back survived the treacherous attack. It was them who relayed the participation of the “civilians” in delivering the coup d’grace to the survivors. This is the story as I remember it – the side of the Army. Try to keep this in mind, Col. Stephen Lalas Cabanlet as you do your research. It is important to keep an objective view. I applaud your effort. Dick Morales

Cabanlet:

Because with all the events in Pata, still the children were the most affected. We are developing a documentary that is positive and somehow help these tausog community change their views and mindset.

Morales:

Col Stephen Lalas Cabanlet, I sincrely hope this surrender of weapons is for real because I have witnessed many such similar events before. In fact, Gen. Teodulfo Bautista’s foray into Danag was supposed to be such an event. The only assurance that these weapons will not be recycled back into hostile use is to destroy each and every one of them – the owners to be compensated for their loss. The Tausug fondness for weapons is legendary. It is said that a Tausug loves his weapons more than his wife. But it was also a Taugug friend who told me that education was the main reason many Tausugs lose interest in weapons.

Estomo:

I was 6IB Batcom in sulu for 13 months starting 01 January of 2002 , during the MBG rebellion . . And the story of the Pata Massacre topped still among legends of debacles in sulu since the 70s . . What a day ! . . . In one angle , that incident plus the Gen Bautista massacre in Danag , Patikul in 1981 , etc , gave lessons to the next commanders and soldiers who set foot in that Sulu island !!!

Felizardo Simoy:

In Danag Patikul we were deployed to improve the roadnets in 1977. Our ACP was very near where BG Bautista was killed. The road was where Col Fe with his Bn was also ambushed. Our company was also ambushed 500 meters from the 24th IB CP. No man’s land ang whole area. The massacre was worst than Pata and parang walang lessons learned. Mamasapano was a repeat with similar massacre.