Espina: All major police ops must now have my clearance first

All major police operations in the country will now have to pass through Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina for clearance before implementation.

Attending a hearing on the ill-fated police mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Espina said this was one of the adjustments made by the PNP following the bloody January 25 clash that left 44 elite policemen dead.

"I don't want any more casualties," Espina said.

The hearing was ongoing as of posting time.

The investigation conducted by the Senate on the Mamasapano incident showed Espina was left out when the ill-fated police mission, dubbed Oplan Exodus, was planned and executed.

The mission was aimed at neutralizing three wanted terrorists holed up in a remote area considered as bailiwicks of Moro rebels. —KBK, GMA News