Purisima refuses forensic exam of cell phone used in Mamasapano operation

Resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima refused to have his cell phone undergo a forensic examination to determine the exchange of text messages between him and President Benigno Aquino III over the Mamasapano debacle.

During the House of Representatives probe on the botched Jan. 25 antiterror raid on Tuesday, Purisima said a forensic examination may divulge other confidential messages that if leaked may be made fun of against him.

“There are other contents that should not be (included) … In forensic study, they can make a copy and make fun of it later,” Purisima said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares moved for the forensic examination of the cellular phones to verify the transcript of messages Purisima and other police and military officials submitted to the Senate in its investigation over the botched operation that claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians.

Purisima said his earliest message with Mr. Aquino was around 5:45 a.m. when he informed the President about the successful mission in killing international terrorist Zulkilfi bin Hir alias Marwan, and the last message around 6:20 p.m., when he told him about the heavy casualties suffered by the SAF.

Purisima also texted the President at 8:17 a.m. informing him that the elite cops were supported by mechanized and artillery support when they were not at the time, prompting Aquino to say Purisima lied to him.

Purisima said there was no need for a forensic examination because he already submitted a transcript of his messages under oath.

But Colmenares said a forensic study may verify if the transcript were not tampered with.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga said the chamber should respect the refusal of Purisima for forensic study due to privacy reasons.

Meanwhile, the panel called for the forensic study of the cell phones of Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Western Mindanao Command head; Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th Infantry Division commander, and Col. Gener del Rosario, head of Army 1st Mechanized Brigade.

This was after Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop moved for a forensic examination of phones to verify allegations that the military held off deploying reinforcements for the elite cops at the height of the gunbattle with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) supposedly to protect the peace process with the MILF.

“Parang ’yung peace process ’yung nag-hold sa inyong mga kamay para tulungan ang mga SAF 44,” Acop said.

Pangilinan denied refusing to deploy reinforcement due to the peace process, saying the artillery were not fired until the afternoon because of unclear information on the ground. RC