P-Noy’s approval

By meeting with resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Alan Purisima, relieved Special Action Force (SAF) General Getulio Napeñas, and SAF Intelligence Group Director Senior Superintendent Fernando Mendez at Bahay Pangarap and at the end of the briefing on Jan. 9, by giving instructions to coordinate with the military, it is very clear that President Aquino approved “Oplan Exodus.” Four days of hearings at the Senate and the House confirm that conclusion.

According to General Napeñas, he took the “advice” of General Purisima not to coordinate with PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas until the SAF troops are already in the target area as he considered the closeness of the then-PNP chief to the President, an advice that took place after Purisima had a private conversation with President Aquino after their second briefing session regarding the preparations for the Mamasapano operation.

Napeñas, however, pointed out that it was not the President who gave him instructions not to inform Roxas and Espina of the covert police “Operation Exodus.”

However, according to presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda, Aquino instructed Napeñas to do the necessary coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the Mamasapano operation, which he has not followed, and that’s borne out by his testimony.

Western Command (Wescom) chief Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero said Aquino, during one of their briefings, told them to reinforce without endangering the reinforcement troops.

In a speech before SAF troopers at Camp Bagong Diwa on Jan. 30, President Aquino said he has been busy the whole day of Jan. 25 when he learned of the SAF encounter at Mamasapano since the morning when he arrived in Zamboanga.

But Interior Secretary Roxas, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and AFP chief of staff General Gregorio Catapang upon questioning said they did not inform the President until late afternoon. Espina for his part said he was more preoccupied with sending military reinforcement.

In fact, it was Lt. General Guerrero who admitted telling the President, who gave him guidance to reinforce the SAF and do their best effort, in the afternoon.

From all these testimonies, it looks clear that there was an effort to clear the President of responsibility.

Nevertheless, President Aquino should also be faulted for including General Purisima in the discussions knowing he was already suspended by the Ombudsman.

Purisima owned accountability for what happened in Mamasapano, though he dodged the question as to who gave the direct order for “Oplan Exodus” to begin, claiming executive privilege because it involves national security.

Igbal’s low-key testimony

A repentant Mohager Igbal, chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), expressed his condolence to the families of the dead 44 SAF members.

He admitted and reiterated the killings were the result of a “mis-encounter” between the MILF, other armed groups and the SAF troops but denied the MILF brutally executed wounded commandos. He denied that an MILF fighter is the one who was caught on video killing a SAF trooper who was still twitching on the ground in Mamasapano. He even claimed the video may have been altered.

He said he trusted the President to continue the peace process. He reminded the senators the MILF has been working for 17 years to achieve peace in Mindanao.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said that the failure to inform the government that wanted international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and known bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman, who “felt safe” in the MILF or BIFF territory, were in their adjacent area is an abject sign of bad faith in the crafting of the
Bangsamoro V Law (BBL).

In response to Santiago, Igbal said that MILF is bound by the mechanisms they entered into as part of the peace agreement. He added that in a civilian community, they cannot compartmentalize the people.

Igbal did a good job of presenting a low-key tone stance that brought down the previous two-day emotional hearing atmosphere at the Senate and the hearing at the House of the Representatives. He even embraced General Espina.

Coup talk

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, in her Senate appearance, reported that coup talks to oust President Aquino have taken place.

Santiago said that leaders of a certain alphabet soup acronyms who are spearheading the planned coup have met and discussed who should be tapped to succeed Aquino. She also said that a very rich man is funding the coup plan.

When asked by Senator Santiago, Defense Secretary Gazmin confirmed they have heard the coup plot rumors and are verifying them. Secretary Gazmin expressed his confidence that no military group would be involved in a plot to remove the President.

The guessing game has started among netizens as to who is the “rich man.” Prominent suspects are the top 15 richest Filipinos reported by Forbes Magazine.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said: “The AFP is ready to defend the state against any such threats. All threats to the state are being monitored and the preparedness of the Armed Force is ready for such threats.”

It is sad that with only a little more than one year to go on President Aquino’s term, coup rumors have arisen.