BOI’s ‘Mamasapano Report’ notes presence of 6 Americans, Purisima’s role

Bulk of documents the Board of Inquiry gathered for the Mamasapano report contained in a trolley suitcase. The BOI brought the luggage to the office of PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina on Thursday.

MANILA, Philippines – A portion of the Board of Inquiry report on the Mamasapano debacle confirmed the presence of “six American nationals” at the tactical command post on the eve of the January 25 operation of the Special Action Force.

One section in “The Mamasapano Report” with a title “J. US Involvement” said relieved SAF commander  Police Director Getulio Napeñas disclosed to the BOI that “US counterparts had been providing medical (support)” to the operation.

The BOI added in the report that six American nationals were in the tactical command post of the SAF in Shariff Aguak with Napeñas and other SAF commanders.

“Towards the retrieval operations, US forces also helped in the medical evacuation of the besieged and wounded SAF commandos. Mangahis maintained that the ‘pilots of the helicopter who helped in evacuating wounded personnel to the hospital’ were among the identified American nationals at the TCP,” the BOI wrote.

The Mangahis being referred to by the BOI was a certain Superintendent Michael John Mangahis.

In the same section, the BOI said Napeñas also confirmed that the severed left index finger of Marwan was sent to two representatives of the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation waiting at General Santos City on January 28, 2015.

“The pictures of Marwan, taken by the Seaborne immediately after he was killed, were also turned over to the FBI as well as the DILG and the PNP as part of the evidence,” it added.

The board also concluded that resigned PNP Director General Alan Purisima had “no authority” in involving himself in the implementation of Oplan Exodus, which ended in the tragic death of 44 SAF commandos, 18 Moro rebels and five civilians.

It said Purisima, one of President Aquino’s closest friends in the government, since he was already serving the suspension handed down on him by the Office of the Ombudsman when the police operation was discussed with the President in December.  With a report from Marlon Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer