Mamasapano tragedy still haunts Mar Roxas after being kept out of loop

Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Tuesday said he continues to think what else he could have done to prevent the Mamasapano incident that killed 44 police commandos in January.

In a forum in which business leaders participated, Roxas was again asked about the police operation that was kept from him when he was Secretary of the Interior and from then PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

"I keep thinking and re-thinking. What else could I have done? Inurirat ko ba dapat lahat ng mga gawain doon? Ang problema is itinago mula sa amin," Roxas said.

"But I constantly go through in my mind, wondering. Forty-four people, 44 fathers, 44 husbands, 44 brothers, 44 sons, through no fault of their own, gave up their lives for our safety," he added.

Roxas defended President Benigno Aquino III, saying his orders for proper coordination were not followed.

"And the President ordered as much, 'Mag-coordinate kayo sa Armed Forces of the Philippines.' Ang malaking trahedya rito ay hindi sinunod ang kaniyang utos, and in fact, it was uncontroverted in the Senate and in the House hearings na may nagsabi, diba? Sinabihan, 'Saka mo na sabihan yung dalawa'," he added.

Former PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima reportedly told then PNP Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napenas to delay informing Roxas and Espina about the operation against the terrorists in an alleged Moro Islamic Liberation Front territory in Mamasapano. -Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News