Dismissed PNP chief Alan Purisima (left) and former acting PNP chief Leonardo Espina arrive at the Senate’s reopening of the Mamasapano probe. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net
Did President Benigno Aquino III even show concern for the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers when he was first informed about the Mamasapano debacle last January 25, 2015?
Such was the question Senate Minority Juan Ponce Enrile raised as he grilled Aquino’s friend and former Police Chief Alan Purisima on Wednesday during Senate investigation on the incident.
READ: Enrile lays down 8 issues vs Aquino at new Mamasapano probe
Purisima admitted in the previous hearings of the Senate that he was the one who informed the President about the debacle through a text message at 5:45 a.m. on that fateful day of January 25.
However, Enrile noted that when the president replied to the text message at 7:36 a.m., Aquino only asked about the target of the said police operation.
“Why was [it] left behind, the other two targets?” the senator said, reading Aquino’s reply to Purisima.
“Ano yung (What was the president referring to by) what was left behind?” Enrile asked Purisima.
Purisima said Aquino was referring to one of the targets, terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir also known as “Marwan” who was killed by the SAF men.
“He (Aquino) was interested in the body of Marwan?” Enrile asked again.
Purisima explained that the SAF troopers should have Marwan’s body to show that the terrorist was indeed killed.
READ: Purisima: SAF neutralized Marwan
“He did not ask the condition of his troops?” Enrile asked.
However, when Purisima was about to answer the senator’s question by pointing out Aquino’s reply, Enrile cut him off and told him to just answer his question directly.
“Just answer my question. Did President Aquino at that moment show concern for the troops that he sent on the dangerous mission?” Enrile again asked.
“The text messages will speak for itself your honor,” said Purisima.
Enrile then said: ‘Ok. This was all that he was interested in at that moment.”
However, Purisima said: “Maybe not your honor but that was the text message sent to me.” RAM