PNoy continues to defend Purisima’s role in deadly Mamasapano operation

President Benigno Aquino III has once again justified the active role played by former Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima in the ill-fated January 25 police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

In an interview with Bombo Radyo on Wednesday, Aquino maintained that he tapped Purisima to explain the operation despite his suspension because the police officer can already be considered a “subject matter expert.”

“Imbes na ‘yung pinasahan niya [Purisima] ng impormasyon ang magle-lecture sa akin o magtuturo o magpapaliwanag kung ano ang nangyayari, minabuti ko na ‘yung nakakaintindi ‘nung iba’t ibang variation nitong mga operations na ito ang magpatuloy na magpaliwanag sa akin,” the President said.

He likewise said that he found nothing wrong with the fact that the suspended Purisima was the one receiving information from the Mamasapano operation’s ground commander, relieved Special Action Force (SAF) chief Director Getulio Napeñas Jr.

“Wala naman akong minamasama doon dahil parang iyon ang normal na naging flow for quite a number of years — mula 2012 yata, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, ‘yung mga — involved si Alan Purisima dito sa paghahabol ng mga high value targets,” Aquino said in the radio interview.

He further said that it would be too much to say that Purisima, his close pal, lied to him about the provision of military support for SAF members who were caught in a firefight with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and some private armed groups after the Mamasapano operation.

“Nagsinungaling ba? Baka masyadong mabigat namang sabihin kung nagsinungaling. Pero baka naman ‘yung information nagkaroon ng konting wishful thinking on his part,” Aquino said.

He stressed that the information Purisima was relaying to him on the day of the Mamasapano incident ultimately came from Napeñas, whom Aquino earlier said fooled him about the botched operation.

The Mamasapano incident left 44 police commandos, 17 MILF fighters and at least three civilians dead.

A Senate committee report released last March said Aquino was ultimately responsible for the incident, and that Purisima usurped official duty when he oversaw the Mamasapano operation despite his suspension in connection with a plunder complaint. —Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News