Drilon clears Aquino on Mamasapano carnage

Senate President Franklin Drilon INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Franklin Drilon has cleared President Benigno Aquino III from any liability over the Mamasapano operation, saying the latter gave sufficient instructions on the conduct of the operation but was disobeyed by officials in charge of the operation.

“Lumalabas ang katotohanan at nakikita na wala namang pananagutan ang Pangulo,” (The truth came out and was evident that the President has no liability) Drilon said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s morning show, “Umagang Kay Ganda.”

Drilon explained: “Sapat ang kanyang instructions dito po kay Napeñas at Purisima.” (He gave sufficient instructions to Napeñas and Purisima)

Purisima is resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima while Napeñas is relieved PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) head Director Getulio Napeñas.

Drilon pointed out that the President directed both Purisima and Napeñas to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines about the operation, but the two did not follow the order.

In fact, he said, Purisima told Napeñas not to inform Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, PNP officer in charge, about the operation.

“Yan po ay maliwanag kaya po ang may papananagutan dito ay sina Purisima at Napeñas,” said Drilon.

The Senate leader also defended the President, who directly coordinated with Purisima even when the latter had been suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman over an alleged anomalous courier deal in the PNP.

“Si Purisima ay diretsong nagre-report kay Pangulo dahil sya po ang may hawak ng sinasabing intel package. Hindi nya po shinare sa mga kinauukulan at sya mismo ang nangangasiwa sa operation,”

(Purisima directly reported to the President because he had the intelligence package. He did not share it with authorities and he led the operation) Drilon further said.

The lawmaker noted that Purisima did not even share it with Espina, the acting chief of the PNP.

Drilon pointed out that it was Purisima who gave Napeñas the go signal to launch the Mamasapano operation based on the admission of Napeñas at the Senate hearing on Monday.

SAF commandos successfully killed international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, but lost 44 of its men when attacked by combined members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Asked in a separate interview Monday if Napeñas’ admission cleared Aquino from any liability, Drilon said: “In the first place, there’s nothing that we’ve seen that would implicate the President.”

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