Drilon: Purisima should face usurpation raps

MANILA, Philippines – The Office  of the Ombudsman  should study the possibility of charging  resigned  Philippine National Police  Director  General Alan Purisima with usurpation of  public functions when he  ordered the Mamasapano operation even when he was suspended, Senate  President Franklin Drilon  said  on  Monday.

It was during Drilon’s questioning in Monday’s hearing on the incident that  relieved PNP-Special Action Force Director Getulio Napenas admitted that Purisima gave  him  a go signal to launch the Mamasapano operation last January 25.

Purisima supposedly gave the approval through a text message to Napenas on January 13, 2015, while he was under preventive suspension of the Ombudsman over an allegedly anomalous courier contract.  Drilon read the exchange of SMS messages between Napenas and Purisima during the hearing.

“Sa akin po maliwanag na si Gen. Purisima ay hindi sinunod ang utos ng Pangulo na mag-coordinate. Pangalawa, kahit siya ay under suspension, maliwanag na siya pa rin ang nagbibigay ng direksyon kay SAF Director Napeñas kung ano ang gagawin,”  the Senate  leader told reporters.

“The Ombudsman should study the possibility of charging Purisima with usurpation of public functions, because at the time of his suspension, he was performing functions that belong to an official who would have the power to order operations.”

“It was very clear that he gave the go-signal, which he was not supposed to be doing,” Drilon said.

Purisima’s possible liabilities may be included in the  report of the Senate when it wraps up its investigation on the incident.

“Yes, that’s an appropriate topic to study in the report of the Senate, what liability does he have. Is there an administrative or criminal liability of Purisima for having given instructions kahit maliwanag na suspendido siya, at siya pa rin ang nagbibigay ng instructions?”

“Yung sinasabi ni Purisima na ‘advice,’ ay sinasabi ni Napeñas na orders na galing sa taas. So maliwanag na si Purisima ang nagbibigay ng instructions,”  Drilon  added.