(UPDATE) Aquino accepts resignation of Purisima

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno Aquino III accepted the resignation of the suspended police official Alan M. Purisima tonight following a bloody encounter between police and Muslim rebels in Maguindanao, resulting in the killing of 44 policemen.

The acceptance of Purisima's resignation came amid growing clamor for Aquino to resign after the tragic incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

"I am accepting effective immediately the resignation of General Purisima," Aquino said in a televised message to the nation.

The President has admitted that Purisima played a "huge role" in launching the January 25 operation against suspected bomb makers, Zulkifli bin Hir, a Malaysian leader of the southeast Asian terrorist Jemaah Islamiyah, and Abdul Usman Basit of local terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group.

The operation was conducted despite the six months suspension that the Office of the Ombudsman rendered against Purisima for alleged anomalous contract that his office entered into.