MANILA, Philippines–Director Getulio Napeñas, the relieved Special Action Force (SAF) commander, risks losing his retirement benefits should the Philippine National Police board of inquiry (BOI) investigating the Mamasapano incident find him accountable.
By the end of the month, the BOI is expected to come out with a final investigation report on the Jan. 25 SAF operation, which Napeñas personally led.
The report will include the accountability of police officers and other personalities involved in the incident, which resulted in the deaths of 44 SAF commandos at the hands of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
“If the BOI finds any culpability on the part of Napeñas, the report would indicate what his punishment would be. He risks losing his retirement benefits, such as his pension,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said.
Napeñas, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1982, is set to retire on July 18 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 for those in the uniformed service.
Cerbo said personalities found accountable for the incident may face administrative charges if they are with the PNP.
If found guilty of administrative charges, these people may end up losing their retirement benefits.
From Day One
“This will all depend on the final investigation of the BOI, so let’s wait for the BOI’s findings and recommendations,” Cerbo said.
Napeñas, from Day One of his pronouncements, assumed full responsibility for the top secret operation, which was kept a secret from his upper classman at the PMA, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, the PNP officer in charge.
Both Espina and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas were kept in the dark about the operation, as Napeñas claimed he reported to President Aquino and the then suspended PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima.
Aside from Napeñas, Espina, a classmate of Purisima’s in the PMA Class of 1981, is set to retire on July 19.
Napeñas’ classmate, Director Carmelo Valmoria of the National Capital Region Police Office, will retire on July 16. Valmoria was SAF chief before Napeñas.