Napeñas: No ‘signing bonus’ to join Binay’s UNA ticket

Senatorial aspirant and former PNP Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas. PHOTO BY YUJI VINCENT GONZALES/INQUIRER.net

Senatorial aspirant and former PNP Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas clarified on Monday that he is not being used by presidential hopeful Vice President Jejomar Binay to remind the Aquino administration of its supposed failure of recognizing the heroism of the troopers killed in Mamasapano last January.

In an interview on ANC’s Headstart with Karen Davila, Napeñas said that one of the reasons why he joined the senatorial ticket of Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) so that the sacrifice of the fallen SAF troopers will not be forgotten.

“Hindi ako nagpagamit o ginagamit (ni Vice President Binay). Nakita niyo ‘yung prinsipyo, ‘yung aking pagtatanggol doon sa Mamasapano investigation,” Napeñas said.

“Ang ipinaglalaban ko dito ay yung kataranungan ng ating mga namatay. Na sa halip na kilalanin ay idiniin pa. Yung kabayanihan nilang ginawa, yung pagsakripisyo nila ng buhay, sana bigyan natin ng pugay ito,” he said.

He also defended Binay from corruption allegations being hurled against him and his family, saying that he enjoys the presumption of innocence.

“We are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Nakita ko kay VP Binay ‘yung kanyang puso para pagserbisyohan ‘yung mga mahihirap,” he said.

During the interview, Napeñas also slammed President Benigno Aquino III, saying that he never heard the President acknowledge the bravery of SAF officers.

“Hindi ko nakita na in-acknowledge niya yung kabayanihan openly in the public. Even in all of his speeches, hindi ko narinig na in-acknowledge niya yung kabayanihan ng mga namatay including kaming mga nabubuhay,” the former top police official said.

He also said that Aquino should be the one to be blamed for the bungled Mamasapano operation.

“‘Kaya nga ayaw nila pabuksan o tuwing Mamasapano pinaguusapan sinasabi na ginagamit ko sa pulitika. Noong umagang ‘yon, sino ba ang nandoon sa Zamboanga? Lahat ng matataas na pinuno. Have they done enough to help us na hindi sana ganoon ang nangyari?” Napeñas said.

“The President has all the power to do that (provide reinforcements) noong nandoon sila sa Zamboanga, nandoon lahat ng matataas na pinuno. I believe in that,” he added.

He said that if he wins as senator, he will fight for the welfare of policemen and military officers, push for reforms in the country’s criminal justice system, and advocate for police modernization.