RESIGNED Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Alan Purisima will be asked to read the text messages he exchanged with President Benigno Aquino III on January 25 as the Senate resumes its public hearing on the Mamasapano incident today.
We will really ask him to read [the transcript]. There is no reason not to do so. Malacanang or the President did not ask for an executive privilege. We were not sent a request for executive privilege. For their part, they swore to tell the truth. He (Purisima) did not invoke his right against self incrimination,” said Senator Grace Poe in an interview over radio DZBB on Sunday.
Poe is the chair of the Senate public order committee which is leading the investigation into the Mamasapano fiasco. The incident resulted in the killing of 44 SAF troopers by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Poe believes the transcript would answer the questions in the minds of the public and show the blunders committed by the major players behind Oplan Exodus.
Oplan Exodus is the covert police operation to get Malaysian terrorist Marwan and local bomb maker Usman, who were reportedly hiding near the “territories” of the MILF and BIFF.
Poe said that based on the records they gathered from three public hearings and three executive sessions, the major players committed several mistakes involving chain of command, communications, and strategy, among others.
Still, she said, the transcript should be made known to the public so the public would know what really happened on that fateful day.
Poe, who clarified she was not taking any sides, said: “As I see it, everybody was at fault.”
When asked whether this included the President, however, she said: “Let us just hear what he will say.”
“We need to thoroughly scrutinize and study what they have, not only Purisima, but also the others, including (Director Getulio) Napenas. As I have been saying, he should not own sole responsibility, and he should instead tell the whole truth. In my own view, he still needs to clarify many things,” related Poe.
ought to explain her statement that Purisima’s testimony given in an executive session will do good for the President, Poe begged off to just hear what he has to say today.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, being an alter ego of the President, was also invited to Monday’s Senate hearing. “We want to know the links of his office to this operation,” said Poe.
She also said the Department of Foreing Affairs (DFA) should shed light on our cooperation with other countries to protect our security, following reports of the United States’ alleged involvement in the operation.