VICE President Jejomar C. Binay on Friday dared the suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Alan Purisima, to speak up about the encounter that cost the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers as he called for justice for the fatalities.
“Nagdadalamhati man tayo ngayon, dapat nating hanapan ng kasagutan ang mga katanungang bunsod ng masaklap na pangyayaring ito,” Binay said.
“General Alan Purisima should break his silence. His name is always mentioned in all the news that comes out, saying he is the chief planner and executor of the operation, although he was suspended from his job.”
The vice president noted that a number of questions have been left unanswered, including who was
accountable for the bloodshed.
He wants to know who planned and gave orders for the operations to go through.
“Sino sa bahagi ng MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] at BIFF [Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters] ang nag-utos na tambangan ang mga miyembro ng SAF?” Binay asked.
“Is it not proper that the leadership of the MILF and the BIFF be made accountable for the pitiless killing of the SAF members?”
“Hindi ba dapat at makatarungan lamang na panagutin ang mga tauhan ng MILF at BIFF na walang awang
kumitil ng buhay ng mga kasapi ng SAF?” he asked.
Binay stressed that the only way to honor the sacrifice of the fallen SAF members is to ensure they get the justice they deserve.
In a statement on the National Day of Mourning for the fallen 44, the vice president said there should be an honest and transparent investigation into the Mamasapano clash.
“Para sa akin, ang tanging magagawa nating lahat na nanunungkulan upang parangalan ang sakripisyo ng 44 na kasapi ng SAF at maibsan ang dalamhati ng kanilang mga naulila ay ang tiyakin na makakamit ang hustisya,” he said.
He added that there should be an open and impartial investigation of the killing and that all those responsible should be made answerable for their dastardly deeds.
The vice president also called on the public to let calm prevail over anger. “Let us not allow anger to overcome our grief and, instead, let us pursue the way of peace in Mindanao for the sake of our beloved mother land.”
“Despite this, we must not fast-track the process because of what happened in Mamasapano, the more that we must give all sectors to be part of the creation of the Bangsamoro basic law,” he added.
Binay said he believes that, like in the previous times, the Filipino people will be able to triumph over such tragedy.
“Buo ang pananalig natin sa maawaing Diyos. Malakas ang tiwala natin sa tibay ng loob ng mga Pilipino. At sa maraming hagupit ng kalamidad at iba pang pagsubok, bayanihan ang umiiral. Pagtutulungan ang nangibabaw. At pagkalinga sa isa’t isa ang lumaganap,” he said.
“Let us continue our unity and cooperation as a way of honoring the 44 heroes of the SAF. Let us keep their sacrifices alive for a more peaceful and progressive society.”
“Bilang parangal sa mga 44 bayani ng SAF, ipagpatuloy natin ang pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan. Isabuhay natin ang kanilang sakripisyo para sa isang payapa, maayos at maginhawang lipunan,” he added.
Nationalist People’s Coalition Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzula at the same time to Purisima to come out from his “White House” in Camp Crame and explain to the Filipino people his role in the January 25 Mamasapano operation.
Gatchalian said Purisima cannot escape responsibility from the massacre of 44 SAF commandos since he was identified by the relieved SAF commander, Director Getulio Napeñas, as the one calling the shots and that the SAF director was directly reporting to him.
Even President Aquino, in his January 28 live telecast speech, admitted that Purisima was giving him briefings on the top secret SAF operation to neutralize Malaysian national and Jema’ah
Islamiyah bomb expert Sulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who is among the most wanted terrorists by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with a $5-million bounty for his capture, dead or alive.
“General Purisima should be man enough to come out and tell everything he knew about the SAF operation since he was the one acting as conduit between SAF Director Napeñas and President Aquino,” said Gatchalian, who had earlier confirmed from his PNP the alleged role of Purisima.
“The least that the suspended national police chief can do is to take the flak for the botched operation and, in so doing, absolve his subordinate officer, General Napeñas, and protect his commander in chief from being pilloried for his failure to ensure safety of the SAF commandos in the Mamasapano operation,” Gatchalian added.
Gatchalian maintained that the active involvement of Purisima in the SAF operation is one of the reasons he is not agreeable to the creation of the PNP Board of Inquiry (BOI) to conduct the formal investigation of the SAF operation and the death of 44 commandos and wounding of 12 other SAF personnel.
While he does not question the integrity and professionalism of the composition of the BOI, which is headed by Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, National Police officer in charge, Gatchalian said it would be difficult for the board to summon and investigate Purisima, who still holds the rank of director general.
Gatchalian pointed out that the board cannot even summon Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., who is concurrent chairman of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, which allegedly funded the top-secret SAF operation.
Being of Cabinet rank, Ochoa can only be investigated by an independent commission similar to congressional inquiries.
“It is crucial for the fact-finding commission to be independent given the magnitude and gravity of the case at hand. It would be best if the PNP has no direct hand in this probe as to ensure that there will be no squelching of the truth and whitewash of the probe,”
Gatchalian explained.
He said the independent fact-finding commission can be headed by a retired Supreme Court justice and its members coming from the ranks of retired Armed Forces and PNP officials, who are known for their integrity, independence and investigative skills.