Purisima: I have no role in Mamasapano operation
Video by Cathy Miranda/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — “I have no role in that operation,” resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Alan Pursima told a Senate hearing on Monday.
Under intense grilling by Senator Teofisto Guingona III during the hearing of the Senate committee on public order joint with committees on peace, unification, and reconciliation, and finance, Purisima repeatedly denied ordering the Mamasapano operation last January where 44 members of the PNP-Special Action Force were killed.
“I did not know that the SAF jumped off already,” the resigned official said.
Resigned Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Alan Purisima is greeted by a senate staff prior to the start of the Philippine Senate probe on the police operation to capture Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, or Marwan, one of Asia’s most-wanted terror suspects, Jan. 25 that killed 44 elite police commandos, Monday, Feb. 9, 2015 at suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. AP
“You were just advising, giving suggestions?” asked Guingona.
Article continues after this advertisement“Your honor, during the time that Police Director General Napeñas informed that they already jumped off, that was already in the morning,” Purisima said, referring to relieved SAF Director Getulio Napenas.
Article continues after this advertisement“You mean you did not also know anything about it?” Guingona asked again.
“I did not know that the PNP SAF, that they jumped off already,” Purisima said again.
Guingona then directed his question to Napeñas if he was the only one who knew about the operation.
Responding to the senator, Napeñas read Pursima’s text message to him last January 19 or six days before the operation.
At about 6:31 p.m. of January 19, 2015, Napeñas said Pursima texted him asking about his plan.
“I responded. Sir good p.m. The plan for the operation is a go on the timeline which is January 23 to January 26 . The troops will move from Zamboanga…”
“There’s no problem in the target area. Preparations continue so that troops are ready once situation and entry road is good,” said the relieved SAF official.
When Guingona asked again who ordered him on January 25 to go into the Mamasapano operation, Napeñas said: ‘There was no direct order for me your honor but I based that decision to go based on the continuing operations, which we have done…”
Pressed for a categorical answer, Napeñas said: “It’s me who decided to go on that window—January 23 to January 26 based on the text message that I sent to Purisima.”
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