Duterte: Noy was too dependent on ex-PNP chief Purisima

President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that his predecessor Benigno Aquino III was "so dependent" on former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima despite corruption issues surrounding the country's former top cop.

Addressing Aquino in a speech before families of fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commandos in Malacañang, Duterte claimed that officials at a command conference in Zamboanga City two years ago on the day of the Mamasapano clash took orders from Purisima.

"Tinanong ko, sabi ko, ‘Halika dito. Sabihin ninyo sa akin anong nangyari, totoo.’ They were taking orders from Purisima, obviously under your authority," said Duterte, who argued that the police should not have been sent to conduct the operation, which resulted in the death of 60 people, including 44 SAF men. 

The troopers were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao during the bloody Oplan Exodus to serve an arrest warrant against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

Duterte blamed Aquino's dependence on his PNP chief for the debacle.

“Kasi kung… si Purisima kasi noon, nakadikit na kaagad ikaw. You were so dependent on Purisima for everything and you even forgive him for all of his sins sa corruption. Ayaw kong buksan ‘yan. If I want to dig, I will dig but I will not look for guesses,” Duterte said, addressing Aquino. 

“Ikaw General Purisima, hindi tayo magkalaban pero do not… Alam mo na, isangkatutak din ang kasalanan mo sa pulis and even sa corruption, madami,” he added. —JST, GMA News