No circus, just light moment at Mamasapano House probe

DID Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina feel like resigning after being kept out of the loop about the Mamasapano operation?

“Maybe together with the Secretary (Interior Secretary Mar Roxas),” said Espina in jest when asked by Fifth District Pangasinan Representative Kimi Cojuangco during the House investigation on the Mamasapano tragedy on Tuesday.

As he gave a playful response, Espina looked at Roxas, who was also kept in the dark about the operation, and both burst into laughter.

Before turning to Espina, a few laughs were elicited from the crowd when Cojuangco repeatedly got wrong the designation of some resource persons, calling Police Director General Alan Purisima “Secretary Purisima” and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin “Lieutenant General Gazmin.”

Cojuangco, whose husband is the son of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, uncle of President Benigno Aquino III, lightened the mood anew when she told Roxas, “I’m not asking you, Mar! Sorry, Secretary Mar.”

Clueless about Espina deliberately kept in the dark about the “Operation Exodus,” an incredulous Cojuangco asked the Philippine National Police officer in charge, “As OIC, you had no idea?”

“Truthfully, hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari. Nagkakaengkwentro lang… Wala, ma’am. Zero. I was kept out of the loop,” Espina said.

Instead of dealing with Espina, President Benigno Aquino III gave orders to resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, who had the intelligence package on the mission’s target, Zulkifli Bin Hir or “Marwan.” AC