Napeñas blasts VACC for including him in Mamasapano case

Sacked Special Action Force Director Getulio Napeñas on Friday lashed out at the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) for including him in a homicide complaint over the Mamasapano carnage even though he helped them build the case against former President Benigno Aquino III.

In a phone interview, an angry Napeñas called out the VACC and said he felt betrayed that he was included in the complaint even though he offered information that could help the case.

The VACC filed a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Aquino, dismissed Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima and Napeñas for their roles in the antiterror raid in the Maguindanao town that resulted in the death 44 SAF policemen.

VACC chair Dante Jimenez accompanied some of the slain men’s relatives—Erlinda Allaga, mother of PO3 Robert Allaga, and Warlito Mejia, father of PO2 Ephraim Mejia—in filing the complaint in the Ombudsman on Friday.

READ: Citizen Noy faces homicide raps for Mamasapano carnage

Napeñas, who lost his senatorial bid in the recently concluded elections, said he even met with Jimenez before the campaign period to offer his knowledge about the botched Oplan Exodus operation.

The former SAF chief said he was even offered by Jimenez to become a state witness, and that the case sounded like a threat to force him to turn himself in as government witness.

“Hiningan ako ng mga facts, tinanong niya ano ang katotohanan … I’m just being honest nung nakipag-usap ako sa kanila. Babaligtarin pala nila ako,” Napeñas said.

“Kailangan mo ba akong file-an ng kaso, i-hostage ako, i-blackmail ako, para maging state witness?” he added.

Napeñas said the VACC only wanted to show off to the Duterte administration.

“Alam naman natin ano ang pagkatao nila. Gusto lang nila magpasikat sa administrasyon na na-file-an ng kaso ang dating presidente,” Napeñas said.

Napenas lamented the spate of cases being filed against him after the Ombudsman dismissed him from service and forfeited his benefits as it indicted him for usurpation of powers and graft over his alleged violation of the chain of command when he coordinated with dismissed police chief Purisima about the operation.

READ: Ombudsman orders raps vs Purisima, Napeñas

Purisima also faced the same charges of usurpation for his participation in the operation despite his suspension for graft.

“It’s a sovereign duty of the police, especially the SAF, to (go) after terrorists. Mission ng SAF yan. Ginawa namin ‘yan, we know the risks and the hazards,” Napenas said.

“In this country, hindi pa rin nagbabago. ‘Yung gumawa ng kabutihan para ma-save ang tao sa mga gumagawa ng bomba, mabigyan ng hustisiya … ‘yung gumagawa ng kabutihan, fina-file-an ng kaso, yung kriminal hindi?” he added.

For his part, Jimenez in a phone interview confirmed the meeting with Napeñas but said there was no plan to help the victims’ families in filing a complaint against Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas.

He said there was no intention to betray Napeñas but he had to be included in the complaint because he was a major player in the botched raid.

“I confirm that meeting. Matagal na ‘yan. Bago pa siya kumandidato. Kasi I want to know anong nangyari,” Jimenez said, adding that Napeñas only provided information already available in the Senate inquiry report on the carnage.

Jimenez said there was no offer for Napeñas to be a state witness, but he was sure the dismissed police chief was the “least guilty” because he only followed the orders of his superiors.

“Huwag naman niyang masamain yun … Sa analysis ko siya ay least guilty among the three. Taga-sunod lang yan ng orders ng Presidente at ni Purisima. Pero may involvement siya,” Jimenez said.

“Dapat kasama siya dahil tatlo silang major players dyan eh. Hindi pwedeng hindi siya kasama,” he added

Jimenez said the doors were still open for Napeñas to coordinate with his lawyers and participate as state witness against Aquino.

Jimenez castigated Napeñas for hitting the VACC as “pasikat.”

“Matagal na kaming nagfa-file (ng mga kaso), Kung ganyan ang gusto niya, kakantiyawin pa niya ang VACC, harapin na lang niya yung complaint namin,” Jimenez said./rga