Militants to P-Noy, Purisima: Explain role in Mamasapano operations

MANILA, Philippines - Militants want both President Aquino and resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima to explain before the congressional investigations the meetings they held regarding the Mamasapano operations.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said, “Executive privilege cannot be used to cover up illegal acts such as the violation of the ombudsman’s suspension order on Purisima. What exactly was the President doing with Purisima on Jan. 9 at Bahay Pangarap?”

Reyes said the meeting at Bahay Pangarap was not some harmless afternoon tea with police officials. “The President has a lot of questions to answer. Invoking executive privilege only strengthens our fear of a cover-up,” he said in a statement.

During the inquiry at the House of Representatives, relieved SAF Director Getulio Napeñas admitted that he followed Purisima’s advice not to inform PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. He said this put the Special Action Force (SAF) in a “volatile situation.”

“The fact that Purisima was able to call several meetings in Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo, despite his suspension, shows that he enjoyed the full backing of the President,” Reyes said.

“And there lies the problem. Barkadahan overrides the chain of command and the hierarchy of authority. Barkadahan blatantly violates even the ombudsman’s suspension order,” he added.

Reyes urged Napeñas to tell the whole truth about Purisima and his dealings with the President.

Likewise, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) yesterday expressed doubt over claims that the US government had nothing to do with the Mamasapano operation.

KMU secretary-general Roger Soluta said the Senate probe belies the claim of the US government.

“The Senate’s probe shows that the US government and President Aquino were directly involved in the planning and execution of the various operation plans aimed at killing Marwan. It shows that Aquino was lying when he said on national television that he did not give a go signal for the operation,” Soluta said in a statement.

Soluta said Napeñas indicated that Aquino not only green-lighted the operation, but also planned it.

He noted that Aquino’s presence in Zamboanga City during the operation in Mamasapano proved that he was involved in monitoring Oplan Exodus’ actual execution.

But police officials absolved Aquino and the US government of any responsibility.

“Napeñas’ and Purisima’s statements do not fit squarely with the scale of the operation, which could only be ordered by the US government and implemented by Aquino himself. The story that they peddle is utterly unconvincing,” Soluta pointed out.

“These won’t convince the Filipino workers and people, much less the colleagues and families of those who died because of the operation,” he added.

KMU will exert efforts to bring the truth out to the grassroots that the US and Aquino are the masterminds of the operation, Soluta said.

“We vow to expose the lies of the US government and Aquino before the public and press for accountability for the crime of ordering the bloodbath in Mamasapano,” he added. – With Mayen Jaymalin