Aquino, Purisima, Napeñas should share blame for Mamasapano debacle

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello is blaming President Aquino, resigned Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima, and sacked Special Action Force Director Getulio Napeñas for breaking the chain of command in the Mamasapano mission to capture two terrorists inside the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camp.

“I think what we have here are shortcomings in a very confused situation. I think the prime responsibility of the fiasco are the President’s, Purisima’s, and Napenas’ for deliberately violating the terms of the territorial access agreements with the MILF and keeping the insertion of the SAF force from the AFP, which had responsibility for the implementation of these agreements, along with the MILF, ” said Bello in a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The President has claimed responsibility for the death of 44 SAF last January 25 but he maintained that the ground commander, Napeñas, had sole discretion on the mission. The President has likewise defended Purisima who retained an advisory role in the mission planning despite being under suspension by the Ombudsmanan for a sleazy gun license courier deal.

“Bello called Purisima and Napeñas as the ‘president’s renegade’ subordinates for failing to inform acting PNP Chief Leonardo Espina and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gregorio Pio Catapang.

“So who began or provoked the shooting takes 95 per cent of the blame. That is why I am so upset the president took so long to assume responsibility for the fiasco. This was total abdication of presidential leadership. What a difference from President Carter, who immediately took responsibility for the Desert One fiasco in 1980,” said Bello.

Bello said the government peace panel and MILF leadership should also take part of the blame in the fiasco for failing to enforce a ceasefire immediately.

“But I do not think the responsibilty of the president and his two renegade subordinates should be foisted on the peace panel. Unless it can be shown that members of the peace panel deliberately sabotaged the ceasefire process, I don’t think they should be replaced,” said Bello.

Should President Aquino resign? “I’m not saying he should resign. I’m saying he needs a thorough reform of his leadership style,” said Bello.

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