Purisima refuses to reveal call and text logs to Aquino

Resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima. RAFFY LERMA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Resigned-Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima refused to have his call and text logs made public to determine the exchange of messages between him and President Aquino over the Mamasapano incident.

During the House of Representatives probe on the botched Jan. 25 antiterror raid Wednesday, Purisima reiterated that divulging his text and call logs would reveal other confidential messages that if leaked may be used for other purposes.

“The security the data that can be collected will go to other purposes. That’s why we are not agreeing to that, your Honor,” Purisima said.

Consequently, Act Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio moved for getting the call and text logs of Purisima from January 25 to 26 from the telecommunications companies.

On Tuesday, Purisima also thumbed down a move by the Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares for forensic examination of cellular phones to verify the transcript of messages which Purisima and other police and military officials submitted to the Senate in its investigation of the incident.

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

Purisima has said his earliest message to the President was at about 5:45 a.m. when he informed the President that the SAF team had killed international terrorist Zulkilfi bin Hir, alias Marwan. His last message was at about 6:20 p.m., when he told the President of the SAF’s heavy casualties.

Earlier, it was revealed that Purisima texted the President at 8:17 a.m. and told him that the SAF men were already given mechanized and artillery support which was not true at the time. This prompted Aquino to later say that Purisima had lied to him.

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

But Colmenares said a forensic study could show if the transcript was tampered with or not.