Purisima sought help of military during Mamasapano incident, says AFP exec

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

PNP Chief Alan Purisima. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Resigned Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima sought for the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the Mamasapano incident last January 25.

This was revealed by the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Brigadier General Angelito de Leon at a Senate hearing on Monday.

At 6:05 and 6:06a.m., Purisima texted Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero if he could call, De Leon said.

At 6:09 a.m., Guerrero called Purisima and the latter mentioned of the law enforcement operations of the PNP’s Special Action Force against top terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

Purisima requested support from the AFP units in the area, de Leon said.

The military, which was heavily criticized for not sending reinforcements immediately, has repeatedly said that there was not coordination from the PNP and they were informed of the operations on the day itself.

After President Benigno Aquino III announced that he had accepted Purisima’s resignation, the former police chief denied that he was involved with the operations.

Purisima was suspended at the time of the incident because of corruption allegations.

He also denied that he asked then-SAF commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. not to inform the AFP and other officials of the operations to get Marwan, dubbed as Oplan Exodus.

But Napeñas, at the Senate hearing, said that he was told by Purisima to keep the operation a secret from Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

The botched operations, aimed to go after Marwan and Filipino bon maker Basit Usman, led to the deaths of 44 elite police officers.