Purisima denies hand in Mamasapano encounter

PNP Director General Alan Purisima. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—After stepping down from his post as the Philippine National Police chief, Director General Alan Purisima broke his silence on national television and denied having a hand in the deadly Maguindanao encounter.

President Benigno Aquino III accepted his resignation on Friday amid public outrage over the clash in Mamasapano town that killed 44 policemen.

Purisima denied supervising the police operation after months of silence, saying he could not have done so since he was still serving his suspension.

“Ito pong usaping na ito, noong panahong nago-operate mga tropa natin sa Mindanao, ako po ay suspendido. Hindi po ako nagmamando doon,” he said.

Purisima was preventively suspended by the Ombudsman in December 2014 over corruption charges involving his official residence in Camp Crame.

“At kagaya ng nabanggit ng SAF (Special Action Force) commander, ako po ang nagbigay ng intelligence package kaya alam ko po ang nangyayari sa lugar pero hindi po ako nagmamando,” he said.

The intelligence package, he said, contained the location of the target, who was slain Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

Sacked SAF commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas had admitted that the suspended PNP chief directed them to delay informing Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina of the operation.

When asked for confirmation, Purisima gave a vague answer: “Ito po yung mga situation na kasama sa plano nila at ang isa po sa mga gusto nilang gawin ay makikita at malaman ng halos lahat kapag nandoon na sila sa target. Makikipag-coordinate na lang sila kapag nasa target na sila.”