Purisima: SAF neutralized Marwan
Dismissed PNP chief Alan Purisima (left) and former acting PNP chief Leonardo Espina arrive at the Senate’s reopening of the Mamasapano probe. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net
Dismissed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima on Wednesday belied the claims of a police asset that apart from “Oplan Exodus,” there was a separate operation plan (Oplan) that he also supervised to neutralize international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir or “Marwan” involving his aides.
“As far as I know, walang ganong (Oplan). Wala akong alam na ganon (As far as I know, there is no such Oplan. I know nothing about it),” a tight-lipped Purisima told reporters before the reopening of the Senate probe on the Mamasapano tragedy started.
Purisima said this was the “alternative truth” President Aquino was referring to, which was first reported by Inquirer.
“May report si Nikko Dizon noong araw, ‘yun din ‘yun (Nikko Dizon reported about it. It’s the same thing),” he said.
READ: New Mamasapano lead eyed
In a GMA news report, a police asset based in Mindanao claimed that it was not the Special Action Force troopers who shot Marwan inside his hut January 25 last year. More than 60 Filipinos—including 44 SAF commandos—died during the conduct of Exodus.
The asset said that while Marwan was sleeping, his close-in bodyguards shot him even before the SAF troopers arrived in Barangay (village) Tukanalipao. This was part of the operation called “Oplan Kalilintad.”
READ: Who killed Marwan?
The GMA source said Purisima was behind the alleged operation plan.
When asked if only the SAF troopers who conducted operations last Jan. 25, Purisima nodded.
But he gave a confusing remark, “Sabay-sabay lahat ang mga Oplan na ‘yan. Hindi ko lang alam ‘yung iba (Those Oplans were carried out simultaneously. I just don’t know about the others).”
When reporters prodded him to elaborate his answer, Purisima said: “Maraming oplans ‘yan (There were several oplans).”
As of posting, the Senate hearing on the deadly clash is ongoing. IDL
