Relieved Special Action Force Director Getulio Napeñas. INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Relieved Philippine National Police Special Action Force Director Getulio Napeñas on Monday denied getting orders from resigned PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima when the Mamasapano operation was launched last January 25, saying he himself was the one “handling, directing” the operation.
Answering queries from Senator Antonio Trillanes IV during the hearing of the Senate committee on public order, peace, unification and reconciliation, and finance, Napeñas made it clear that he was not getting orders from then suspended Purisima.
“I was the one handling, directing the operation…” the sacked SAF told the committees.
Asked about his statement that Purisima, after a meeting with President Benigno Aquino III in Malacanang last January 9, told him not to inform Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP officer in charge Leonardo Espina about the Mamasapano operation, Napenas said: “It’s not an order. It’s a judgment call on my part…” not to inform the two.
Napeñas reiterated that Pursima was not giving orders but was merely providing information through text messages about the operation.
Asked again by Trillanes what lessons he had learned from the botched operation, the sacked official said he would work “very closely” with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He pointed out though that the SAF coordinated several times with the 6th Infantry Division but was even “abandoned” once by the said unit.
“That incident was very hurtful,” said Napeñas.
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