Poe expects Purisima to attend Mamasapano probe despite ‘resignation’

Senator Grace Poe PHOTO BY: CESAR TOMAMBO/PRIB

MANILA, Philippines–Despite reports that suspended Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima has already resigned, Senator Grace Poe still expects him to honor his previous commitment to attend the Senate probe into the Mamasapano incident which is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week.

“Nag-kumpirma na siya (Purisima) bago siya nag-resign. Wala namang dahilan kung bakit sa ngayon hindi siya maaaring dumalo. Umaasa naman tayo na dadalo siya (He had already confirmed his attendance before he resigned. There is no reason why he couldn’t attend now. We still expect him there),” Poe, is leading the investigation as head of the committee on public order, said in a radio interview.

Poe said the public should also know the reason behind Purisima’s resignation if indeed the report was true.

“Dahil ba may kinalaman siya dito o dahil nawawala ang kumpiyansa sa kanyang liderato? So yung nilalaman o kadahilanan ng kanyang pagbibitiw ay kailangan ding malaman ((Did he resign) because he was involved in the operation? Or did he lose faith in his own leadership? That’s why it is necessary for him to attend so he can explain the reason for his resignation),” the senator added.

Purisima is among the officials who have previously committed to attend the Senate probe. The others are Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gregorio Pio Catapang, Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and other military officials.

Poe also urged the top officials of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) to attend the probe.

“Pero wala pa po akong kumpirmasyon kay PNP-SAF Napeñas at PNP-SAF officer in charge Taliño (But I have not received confirmation from PNP-SAF (commander) Napeñas and PNP-SAF officer-in-charge Taliño),” she said in a radio interview on Friday, referring to sacked SAF commader Police Director Getulio Napeñas and SAF officer in charge Noli Taliño.

“’Yun po ang napakahalaga na sana’y dumalo sila at ‘yung survivor natin si Christopher Lalan at Raymond Train kasi sila po ang nakakaalam din ng nangyari sa ground eh kailangan talaga sila kaya pinapa-follow up ko. Pero as of yesterday nananatiling hindi pa sila confirmed.”

(It is crucial for them and survivors Christopher Lalan and Raymond Train to attend because they are the ones who know what really happened on the ground. But as of yesterday, they haven’t confirmed yet.)

“Nananawagan po ako sa kanila na sana nama’y dumalo dahil sa hindi rin naman kami titigil hangga’t hindi sila dumalo eh tuluy-tuloy lang po ang ating pagdinig para naman marinig din ang kanilang panig,” Poe further said.

(We are urging them to attend as we will push through with our hearing so we can hear their side.)

The senator said she could not understand why until now the SAF officials have not confirmed their attendance when one of them had already faced a press conference.

She was apparently referring to Napeñas, who faced the media to defend the SAF from criticisms over the death of its 44 comrades during the botched Mamasapano operation in Maguindanao last January 25.

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