Instead of giving him “special treatment,” resigned Police Chief Director General Alan Purisima should be fired and charged in court for the botched Mamasapano operation that left 44 elite policemen dead last January 25, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.
Marcos repeatedly called on President Benigno Aquino III, in a privilege speech, to fire Purisima and charge him in court over the incident.
“Fire Purisima. Charge him in court for usurpation of authority or official functions, for violating the chain of command, for gross misconduct and negligence that needlessly cost the lives of our policemen, among other serious violations. Throw the book at him. Appoint a permanent PNP chief,” he said.
“Mr. President, please listen to the call of the widows of our fallen SAF (Special Action Force) 44. Please heed the pleas of our people to remove Gen. Purisima from the service and to bring the killers of our fallen policemen to justice, and for their mementos and other personal belongings returned to their loved ones.”
“Please, Mr. President. Please, for the sake of justice, for the sake of an enduring peace, listen to your people. Listen to your heart. Do the right thing: Fire Purisima,” he said.
At the very least, Marcos said, the President should genuinely abide by his clear and unequivocal decision to accept Purisima’s resignation, which was supposed to be “effective immediately, not effective temporarily.”
“And most importantly, file the appropriate charges against him for crimes against the people. Bring the killers of our SAF 44 to justice. Then and only then can our Fallen SAF 44 truly rest in peace,” the senator added.
Marcos deplored that five months after, the families and relatives of the 44 SAF men, who perished in the operation, are still crying for justice for their loved ones.
“Subalit, paano nila makakamtan ang inaasam na hustisya kung ang taong responsable sa palpak na Oplan Exodus ay lantarang binibigyan ng “special treatment”? Papaano natin sila mabibigyan ng hustisya kung ang tao sa likod ng Oplan Exodus na siyang nagdala sa ating SAF 44 sa kanilang hukay ay papayagang bumalik sa kapulisan at sa posisyon ng kapangyarihan?”
“Sa kabila ng katakut-takot na batikos mula sa taumbayan at ng mga mabibigat na akusasyon, tuloy pa rin ang kapit pa rin si Gen. Purisima sa kapangyarihan. Tila malakas ang kapit sa Pangulo. Nasaan ang hustisya?” the senator asked.
Marcos noted that on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, Purisima would return to active duty from his six month-suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the allegedly anomalous courier deal while he was the PNP chief. AC
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