MANILA, Philippines–Why give Marwan’s finger directly to the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation and not to local security agencies?
Senator Loren Legarda asked this to sacked Special Action Force commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. during the Senate probe on the deadly Mamasapano clash on Tuesday.
Instead of giving a categorical answer, Napeñas requested for an executive session.
Relieved Special Action Force commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA
“Your honor, ‘yung tungkol po sa daliri ni Marwan na napunta sa FBI, may I request, your honor, that we could take that up in an executive session because of some security implications your honor,” he said.
(Your honor, regarding Marwan’s finger which was turned over to the FBI, may I request that we take that up in an executive session because of some security implications?)
“Kung bakit n’yo biniigay sa FBI at hindi sa NBI or sa SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government) or sa PNP (Philippine National Police) chief o etc. Hindi nyo masagot kung bakit sa Amerikano at hindi sa NBI?” Legarda asked again, this time, raising her voice.
(Why did you give it to the FBI and not the NBI or the SILG or the PNP chief or etc.? You cannot explain why you turned it over to the Americans and not the NBI?)
There was a long pause before Napenas could answer the question.
“Your honor, I will be ready to reveal why we did that in an executive session your honor,” said the relieved officer.
Legarda answered, “I respect that.”
Before this, Napeñas denied any knowledge if the United States knew about the Mamasapano operation last Jan. 25 that left 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) dead.
He, however, admitted that on the day of the operation, he sought the help of US forces based in Zamboanga to evacuate the wounded troops.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero also asked Napeñas why they had to send Marwan’s finger to the FBI if the US had indeed no knowledge about the operation.
Napeñas said he would consult first his lawyer but later repeated his request for an executive session.
An INQUIRER.net source, one of the survivors of the bloody clash that killed 44 cops, said his team, the main effort or the 84th SAF company, turned over the finger to FBI representatives.
He said the finger for the DNA extraction was received by the FBI representatives in General Santos City.
The FBI on February 5 said that tests showed that the DNA samples sent by the Philippine government belonged to Marwan.
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