Purisima: PNoy merely observed planning of ‘Oplan Exodus’

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Pursima on Wednesday stood firm that President Benigno Aquino III was not involved in the planning of the covert police operation that left over 60 people dead, including 44 elite Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.

Appearing at the re-opening of the Senate probe on the deadly Mamasapano incident, Purisima maintained that Aquino was just a mere observer during a briefing on “Oplan Exodus,” the police operation aimed at neutralizing high-profile terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan.

The briefing took place on Jan. 9, 2015 at the Bahay Pangarap in Malacañang Palace.

“When the Oplan [Exodus] was presented to the President, it was already finished – the operation planning. So it was already just being presented for the information of the President,” Purisima told the committee.

Further, Purisima said even before the January 9 meeting between him, Aquino, then-SAF commander Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. and PNP Intelligence Group Director Senior Superintendent Fernando Mendez, the concept of operation for Oplan Exodus was already completed and laid out.

“The concept of operation was made by SAF...It was the PNP SAF commander who was presenting the concept of operation. It was already prepared during that time, your honor,” Purisima.

When asked by Senate Minority Leade Juan Ponce Enrile why he was in that said meeting despite the fact that he was under preventive suspension at that time over his alleged involvement in the supposedly anomalous PNP courier deal, Purisima said he was present to facilitate the briefing.

“I was just a facilitator,” Purisima said.

Before the hearing started, Purisima told reporters that Aquino was not involved in the planning of Oplan Exodus.

"Hindi, hindi rin kasama," he said.

'Advice'

Also at the hearing, Purisima reiterated that he just advised Napeñas not to inform then-acting PNP chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and then-Interior Secretary Mar Roxas about the operation.

“Your honor, that is not an order, that (was) just an advice,” Purisima said.

Enrile, however, countered him and said that as the highest-ranking police official at that time, his words to Napeñas can be considered an order.

“I've been in the [military] service for 17 years. The tenor of what you said, to me is an order. You are a military man and you should know what is an order and what is a suggestion. Nandito ang mga militar na kasama mo eh,” Enrile said.

Meanwhile, Napeñas, upon the questioning of Enrile, admitted that Aquino never objected in any aspect of the concept of operation for Oplan Exodus during the briefing.

Napeñas recounted that Aquino only suggested two things regarding the operation – to make coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and to increase the police troopers that will carry out the operation.

Napeñas said he informed Aquino during the briefing that the PNP intends to carry out the “time on target” concept, which means that the military will be informed only when the SAF troopers were already at the target site of the operation.

“With due respect sir, compromised po ang AFP. Did you say that [to the President]?” Enrile asked Napeñas.

Napeñas replied in the affirmative.

“President Aquino did not stop you on your recommendation that the operation should be time on target?” Enrile further inquired, to which Napeñas again replied: “Yes, your honor.”

“At that time he was the President. He was the commander-in-chief. He was the embodiment of the military power of the whole nation. There's only one President,” Enrile commented.

To reiterate his point, Enrile again asked Napeñas: “And President Aquino did not insist and persist that the suggestion of prior coordination must be followed by you?”

“Yes, your honor,” Napeñas said.

The January 25, Mamasapano encounter between the PNP-SAF, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) left 44 SAF troopers, 18 MILF members; five civilians dead. — RSJ, GMA News