Espina tells solons: I now take command

SINCE the Mamasapano tragedy, Philippine National Police officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina had made sure he takes command of all major police operations to avoid bloodshed in the future.

“All major operations should be cleared with me. I always compare note I can give with Armed Forces of the Philippines’ General Catapang,” said Espina when asked what the PNP did to correct operational lapses committed in the January 25 raid.

“I take command and control of all major operations. I don’t want anymore casualties.”

It was highlighted anew in the resumption of the House of Representatives inquiry on the Mamasapano debacle the lack of coordination within the PNP when Espina was kept out of the dark about “Operation Exodus.”

Besides Espina, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and the AFP were kept out of the loop about Oplan Exodus until the Special Action Force troopers arrived their target area.

Espina took over the 150,000-strong police force when resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima was preventively suspended over corruption allegations in December 2014.

Ironically, President Benigno Aquino III, instead of Espina, dealt directly with his Purisima, his known close friend, during the planning and execution of the mission.

Forty four SAF commandos, 17 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and five civilians died in the law enforcement operation against bomb-making expert and Jemaah Islamiyah member Zulkifli Bin Hir or “Marwan” and his associates Abdul Basit Usman and Amin Baco.

Of the three targets, only Marwan, who has a $5 million bounty on his head, was neutralized.

The debacle triggered public anger against the Aquino administration and threatened to hamper the peace process with the MILF. AC