Napeñas confirms Aquino’s involvement

The Senate investigation on the Mamasapano massacre started yesterday with Suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima and General Getulio Napeñas as star witnesses.

The House hearing will start tomorrow.

The atmosphere in both Houses has changed with many members now hesitant to approve the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) because of the tragic anti-terror operation in Maguindanao town on Jan. 25.

“Ang paglalabas ng katotohanan ay unang hakbang sa pagbibigay ng hustisya sa 44 na namatay,” Senator Grace Poe said.

Senator Poe added that the committee demands answers on the command and control issues, combat operations and intelligence, training of police forces, and equipage of forces.

Secretary Mar Roxas was called to speak first: “The SAF got their man. They did their part. We must now do ours.” He turned over the testimony to Director Benjamin Magalong.

Based on 37 interviews, the PNP SAF’s mission was to arrest Zulkipli Bin Hir and Basit Usman — clearly high value targets. Marwan reportedly died while Usman managed to escape.

Three hundred ninety-two SAF personnel involved were divided into 12 different operating groups.

General Espina stated that some 44 slain soldiers were shot dead at close range.

Marwan trained 300 bombers. The terrorist even had planned to bomb the papal convoy of Pope Francis during the pontiff’s visit in Philippines, according to General Napeñas.

General Napeñas confirmed that the mission plans were reported to President Aquino at Philippine Security Group (PSG) Headquarters at Malacañang Palace on Nov. 29. Later on Jan. 9, he reported again to President Aquino at PSG Headquarters.

Napeñas also disclosed General Purisima’s involvement in the “Operation Wolverine” up to January.

Napeñas reported that 250 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Philippine Armed Groups (PAG) were killed by SAF.

The fact-finding committee was led by AFP Inspector-General Benito Antonio de Leon, a G3 deputy chief-of-staff for operations. The findings of the committee were presented to AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. at the Camp Aguinaldo General Headquarters. The fact-finding mission effectively cleared military ground units of any responsibility for the delayed sending of reinforcement in Mamasapano.

5 major setbacks

In his speech Friday night, President Aquino said he will carry the Mamasapano massacre, a tragedy that happened during his term where 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos died, to the end of his days.

“I am the father of this country and 44 of my children were killed. They can no longer be brought back. They were my responsibility, together with the rest of the forces of the SAF involved in this operation,” President Aquino further said in his second national address.

There are 4 other major setbacks he should carry to his dying days, namely:

1. The Luneta hostage taking fiasco where 8 Hong Kong tourists died;

2. Typhoon Yolanda disaster and the mishandling of the rehabilitation effort;

3. The Supreme Court (SC) decisions declaring the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional; and

4. The SC decision declaring the Truth Commission unconstitutional.

Netizens hold President Aquino responsible. Lawyer Raymund Fortun conducted his own survey on the social media asking his followers whom they believe should be held responsible over the Mamasapano massacre of 44 SAF commandos.

With 543 individuals responding to Fortun’s call, his survey yielded the following result:  P-Noy = 448 (82.50 percent); Purisima = 41 (7.55 percent);  Napeñas = 24 (4.41 percent); GMA = 19 (3.49 percent); and none of the above/MILF/BIFF = 11 (2.02 percent).

The buck stops with President Aquino at 82.50 percent as he is the commander-in-chief. Most respondents said the President should be held liable since he had full knowledge of the entire plan, together with the dangers that came with it; he would be the first to know if the plan was being executed correctly. He should have known what was happening at every moment, yet still pursued the operation – leading to the gruesome death of the 44 fallen heroes.

The netizens’ verdict: the President should have accepted responsibility for the massacre.

Mancao retracts

Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada thanked former police officer Col. Cezar Mancao for finally clearing him of any involvement in the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

Mancao was the principal suspect in the Dacer-Corbito case, and implicated Mayor Estrada and former Senator Panfilo Lacson, claiming he was merely pressured by some officials under the previous administration.

Mancao must now reveal who pressured him to pin down Estrada and Lacson.

Tidbits

Star Paper King Sebastian Chua celebrated his birthday last Saturday at the Gloria Maris Sharks’ Fin Seafood Restaurant in Greenhills. Heading the 300 guests were Mayor Joseph Estrada, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Nancy Binay, Mrs. Elenita Binay, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Secretary Ronaldo Llamas, Sen. Nikki Coseteng, Rep. Tet Garcia, Gov. Chavit Singson, Gen. Ramon Montaño, Gen. Manuel Roxas, Col. Ariel Querubin, Lito Banayo, and Frank Puzon.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in the Philippines for a three-day visit. Leading the welcomers were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario, and Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. President Widodo goes bicycling regularly for his exercise.

Bill Gates is the world’s richest person. The United States (US) has the most number of billionaires. China is second. India is third.

Vice President Binay visited SAF wounded soldiers at PNP General Hospital. He gave them P100,000 each. “I came here with my children to have lunch with our wounded policemen and to try to console them,” Binay said.