MANILA, Philippines—The findings of the Philippine National Police’s board of inquiry (BOI) on the fateful Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident only affirmed “the principal roles” of President Benigno Aquino III and resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima in the bungled operations, a militant group said.
“The BOI report, despite some shortcomings, can be a good starting point in holding Aquino and Purisima accountable for the Mamasapano incident. Even with its limitations, the report affirms what we have known all along: That Aquino and Purisima along with Napeñas violated the chain of command and the Ombudsman suspension order,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in a statement on Friday.
READ: The Mamasapano incident full report
Purisima was on suspension due to supposed anomalous transactions when Oplan Exodus was executed.
Oplan Exodus, which targeted top terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman, killed 44 police officers, 18 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and five civilians.
The report also confirmed US involvement in the operation.
The people are more than ever justified in calling for the resignation of Aquino in light of these findings, Reyes said.
Aquino liar
“Once again, Aquino is exposed as a liar, whose puppetry to the US and favoritism of Purisima caused the deaths of 67 people on Jan. 25,” Reyes said.
BOI findings said Aquino gave the go-signal and allowed the execution of the mission that was presented to him by then Special Action Force chief Police Director Getulio Napeñas.
The chain of command was also bypassed in the Oplan Exodus, as Aquino dealt with Napeñas instead of PNP officer in charge Police Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, the report said.