Pimentel tells PNP to release official statement on US role in Mamasapano

The Philippine National Police (PNP) should release a statement explaining the legal basis and details of the assistance it sought from the United States in the covert plan to arrest international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan amid lingering questions about foreign involvement in the Mamasapano mission, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Sunday.

Pimentel said the PNP should come out with its official explanation on the extent of US involvement in the covert operation codenamed “Oplan Exodus” in Mamasapano, Maguindanao if it has nothing to hide.

“[Dapat maglabas] ng official statement ang PNP at sabihin kung ano ang legal basis ng relationship nila and the US government or police forces. And then pursuant to this legal basis, ano ang extent ng role ng US government and role sa Mamasapano... para once and for all hindi na tayo nagtatanong sa isa't isa and yung concerned agency na mismo ang mag-eexplain,” he said in an interview over radio dzBB.

Among the things that Pimentel said could be clarified by the PNP in its statement is the alleged presence of a drone or unmanned aircraft operated by US forces during the anti-terror operation conducted by members of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF).

“Di talaga klaro [sa hearing] kung drone or manned aircraft 'yun. Ang lumalabas yung iba sinasabi na may naririnig silang aircraft habang yung iba sinasabi na mayroon silang nakitang aircraft. Kung wala naman tayong itinatago o walang kinatatakutan na may batas na na-violate, bakit hindi makapaglabas ang PNP ng official statement? Kung legal naman 'yan, what's the issue? What's the fear?” he said.

Over 60 people, including 44 SAF troopers, died in a clash with several armed groups in the course of carrying out “Oplan Exodus.”

'Serious explaining'

Pimentel, a lawyer, said he became curious about the extent of the US role in the SAF operation when none of the ranking police officials present at the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash last Jan. 27 volunteered to expound on the matter after sacked SAF director Getulio Napenas failed to give concrete answers to questions raised by Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile.

"Kung perfectly legal naman [ang involvement ng US], bakit sila (PNP officials) nahiyang saluhin ang isang resource person (Napeñas)? It was understandable bakit hindi niya masagot because there were people higher than him. 'Yung highest hierarchy ng PNP dapat kayang sagutin 'yun,” he said.

The senator said the executive branch would have some serious explaining to do if even its top leaders fail to provide a satisfactory explanation about the US role in the Mamasapano operation.

“We have a problem kung ang leadership ng PNP, DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) at DND (Department of National Defense) hindi alam kung ano ang nangyari dahil may security implications yung pagkakaroon ng foreigners na nagpapalipad [ng drone] nang di natin alam. I'm hoping alam nila kasi nakakahiya kung hindi,” he said.

During the Senate hearing, Napeñas identified a joint US task force based in Zamboanga City—which he described as a “civilian-military” component of the US government—as the unit that provided the support.

However, he said the US joint task force only provided “real-time intelligence” support during “Oplan Exodus.”

Pressed by Enrile on why a US unit was providing intelligence and other form of support in a purely police matter when the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) only covers joint operations between US and Philippine militaries, Napeñas said the American government probably extended support to the SAF operation due to the Philippines' shared fight against terrorism with other countries.

In an interview with GMA's News To Go on Friday, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said there is an agreement between the two countries that covers the police, adding that the Mamasapano operation was related to "international terrorism."

'Audit operation report'

While Pimentel agreed with Senate President Franklin Drilon's belief that the US did not violate any treaty by helping the PNP in “Oplan Exodus,” he said the concerned government agencies should still publicize the documents indicating the legal basis for the extent of foreign assistance in Philippine police operations.

“Lahat ng [assistance], may basis 'yan. May paper trail [such as] Memorandum of Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding. The PNP can sign agreements with foreign police authorities... Pero kahit yung verbal request [for assistance] should have an underlying agreement,” he said.

In a separate radio interview, Enrile said he no longer has plans to come out with a minority report on the Mamasapano clash even if he said he had firmly established Aquino's culpability in the Mamasapano bloodbath.

“Hindi na kailangan ng minority report. Wala na akong panahon. Kung ayaw ninyong maniwala, okay lang sa akin basta nagawa ko na ang aking dapat gawin para sa bayan,” he said.

Enrile, however, said he still has in his possession new evidence in the form of an audit operation report on "Oplan Exodus."

He claimed that there were individuals who "suppressed" the information contained in the report, but did not elaborate on their identities nor on the source of the report. —ALG, GMA News