Napeñas continues Senate testimony behind closed doors

Police Director Getulio Napeñas continued his testimony before senators on Monday but behind closed doors.

MANILA, Philippines — Police general Getulio Napeñas, relieved chief of the Special Action Force (SAF), continued his testimony on the bloody Mamasapano incident behind closed doors at the Senate on Monday.

Napeñas requested the executive session citing national security concerns.

The senators first held an executive session last Friday for two survivors of the operation that left 44 elite policemen dead.

Among those present at Monday’s closed-door session when it started at a little past 1 p.m. were Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senators Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, and Senator Grace Poe.

Poe is leading the probe as head of the committee on public order.

Last week, Legarda pressed Napeñas on the alleged involvement of the United States in the operation. She was particularly interested in why the finger of slain Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was handed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Interest in the possible role of the Americans in the operation dubbed Oplan Exodus is high because of reports that it was a US-led plan.

Also, there are allegations that the lives of the 44 SAF commandos were sacrificed in exchange for the $5-million (P220-million) bounty put up by the FBI on the head of Marwan.

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