Resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima. RAFFY LERMA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director Alan Purisima narrated his “direct participation” in the Mamasapano operation in a position paper that he submitted to the Senate, in which he denied knowing when the police operation would be launched.
The police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25 resulted in the deaths of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).
“My direct participation in Operation Exodus ended with the implementation of my preventive suspension,” Purisima said in a 13-page position paper that he submitted on Wednesday, March 11, to the Senate committees on public order, peace, reconciliation and unification, and finance that investigated the incident.
He was placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman in December 2014 over an allegedly anomalous courier deal in the PNP. He resigned after the botched Mamasapano operation.
“I categorically deny giving any orders to any PNP official or personnel regarding Operation Exodus during my preventive suspension. I did not even know when the PNP SAF would launch Operation Exodus,” the resigned official said.
Purisima’s statements contradicted the testimony of sacked PNP-SAF head, Director Getulio Napeñas when he testified at the Senate last February 23 where he admitted that it was the resigned PNP chief who gave him the go signal to launch the Mamasapano operation.
READ: Napeñas admits Purisima gave go-ahead for Mamasapano operation
Under the PNP Operational Procedures, Purisima said the implementation of the operation and tactical details of Operation Exodus falls on the ground commanders.
“Hence, the management and details of implementation are of law enforcement operations are left to the ground commanders,” he pointed out.
Purisima explained that when he assumed his post in December 2012, several continuing law enforcement operations were already launched against high priority targets, including Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan” and Abdul Basit Usman, who were the targets of the Mamasapano operation.
“Prior to Operation Exodus in January 15 were Operation Wolverine 2 in April 2014, Operation Terminator in November 2014 and Operation Terminator 2 in December 2014,” he said.
As then PNP Chief, he said he was aware of the full details of the continuing law enforcement operations against Marwan and Usman to effect their arrest.
“I knew about said continuing law enforcement operations until the Office of the Ombudsman issued a preventive order against me in December 2014,” said Purisima.
“Having been preventively suspended and since the effectivity of said preventive suspension, I no longer had any authority to direct or issue orders to any PNP officer and personnel,” he further said.