Espina on moving speech: I’m just ‘telling the truth with all my heart’

MANILA, Philippines—After being lauded for giving an impassioned statement for his 44 slain men, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said he was just “telling the truth with all my heart.”

“Nagsasabi lang po tayo ng totoo. Bothered ako sa medico legal (report). Hindi ako makapaniwala talaga eh,” the Philippine National Police officer in charge told reporters in an ambush interview after the Senate probe on the deadly Mamasapano incident.

Espina also thanked those who felt for him as he went emotional before congressmen, decrying the “overkill” of 44 Special Action Force troopers in an encounter with Moro rebels.

He condemned the killers of the policemen, saying the assailants, who were allegedly from the Muslim armed groups, are “lawless elements and criminals.”

After the Senate hearing, Espina gave Mohagher Iqbal,  the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s chief negotiator, a hug and “thanked” him.

Espina was also in a forgiving mood with relieved SAF commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. who kept him out of the loop during the planning and execution of “Operation Exodus” targeting an international terrorist.

Napeñas said resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima had ordered him to delay telling Espina about their operation.

“Wala akong sama ng loob. That was his judgment call. He said it was enough that Napeñas had been vocal in expressing his side in several fora,” he said.

He said Napeñas had personally apologized to him.

At the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Napeñas reached out to Espina and leaned on him after the PNP OIC’s moving speech.

“Nothing personal really. I just asked him why he did not inform me,” he said.