Thursday, September 28, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home News Top Stories

Roxas wanted Purisima, Ochoa fired, source says

Christine F. HerrerabyChristine F. Herrera
February 5, 2015, 12:01 am
in Top Stories
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II demanded that President Benigno Aquino III sack suspended national police chief Alan Purisima and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa in an emergency meeting sought by Roxas himself on Tuesday, (Feb. 3), but was turned down, a Palace source said Wednesday.

Roxas warned the President that protecting Purisima would trigger his (Aquino’s) downfall.

A police general earlier said that it was Purisima who planned and oversaw the top secret Mamasapano operation that killed 44 elite Special Action Force troopers.

Roxas

“If you don’t fire Purisima, babagsak ka. That would trigger your downfall, Mr. President,” the Palace source quoted Roxas as warning the President during the meeting.

“I recommend the firing of Purisima and [Executive Secretary Paquito] Ochoa [Jr.]. This is the least that we can do for the families who are hurting and the start to show the government is sincere and is doing something to ensure that justice is served. We promised that justice be served,” Roxas reportedly told the President.

But the source said President Aquino stood firm and refused to fire Purisima despite Roxas recommending it.

Roxas also sought the sacking of Ochoa, who, as head of the Anti-Crime Council, was ordered by the President to fund Purisima’s January 25 covert operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“Hindi ko puwedeng gawin yan. I will not fire them. I can’t do it and I will not do it,” the President told Roxas.

Aquino’s refusal to fire Purisima, according to the source, angered Roxas because of the possibility that Purisima would be reinstated after serving the six months suspension due to charges of graft and corruption against him.

Purisima is serving the suspension for six months as ordered by the Ombudsman in December.

Roxas, the source said, recommended the firing of Purisima to avoid suspicion that the government intended to “whitewash” the ongoing investigations on the Mamasapano massacre.

“Roxas fears that Purisima could influence the ongoing probes to extricate himself of liability considering that the suspended PNP chief was able to run a major covert operation despite his suspension. Purisima’s influence over the President and the police force were unquestionable,” the source said.

“After several attempts to make the President understand that he needed to fire Purisima and were met with an emphatic No, Roxas walked out on the President and banged the door when he left,” the Palace source said.

The source said the President was in a meeting with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima at around 1 p.m. Tuesday when Roxas entered and sought an “emergency meeting” with the President for a “top priority agenda.”

Roxas insisted on a meeting about “something really important that cannot wait and needed immediate action.”

(Finance’s Purisima is not related to the PNP chief).

“The President allowed Roxas to join him and Purisima, who had witnessed the heated exchange between the President and Roxas,” the Palace source said.

A check with the President’s schedule showed that the Finance Secretary was in the Palace for a meeting with the President, when Roxas arrived and was allowed to join in.

“Mar was obviously upset since he just arrived from a very emotionally-charged visit in the wakes for the fallen SAF troopers in Cordillera province, where he talked to the families who demand justice,” the source said.

Roxas, the source said, believed firing Purisima would at least ease the pain of the families of the fallen heroes and placate the “collective outrage” by the Filipino people over the President’s lack of indignation on the massacre in the hands of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front forces, with whom the government was negotiating peace and his absence during the arrival honors at Villamor Airbase when the bodies of the fallen heroes came.

The President, at that time, had instead attended the inauguration of a new Mitsubishi plant in Laguna and even arrived late at the necrological service for the fallen heroes in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Roxas, the source said, was smarting from the conditions made by Purisima with the President that he would only provide all the intelligence information about international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, a Malaysian bomb expert wanted by the US government, provided he would be the one “calling the shots” and oversee the covert operations.

Purisima, according to a police general source, also demanded that Roxas and PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director Gerardo Espina be kept in the dark about the major operations.

Roxas and Espina confirmed the Manila Standard story that they were kept out of the loop.

“The President acceded to Purisima’s demands and condition. It was a tragedy in the making,” the police general, who requested anonymity, told the Manila Standard earlier.

“Roxas believed Purisima and Ochoa, who were not part of the chain of command, were given major and sensitive responsibilities that compromised the operation because they were not in a position to exercise authority due to Purisima’s suspension and Ochoa’s absence of authority over the police force,” the Palace source said.

 

 

Macon Ramos Araneta

Tags: Fallen 44Manila StandardochoaourismaPhilippinesRoxasSAFwanted
ADVERTISEMENT
Christine F. Herrera

Christine F. Herrera

Related Posts

‘PH shuns war, but will fight for territory’

byMacon Ramos-Aranetaand2 others
September 28, 2023, 12:50 am
0
8
Marcos signs ‘Trabaho’ Act into law to craft job generation masterplan

“We do not want war, but it’s our territory that they want to get.” With these words, Defense Secretary Gilbert...

Read more

House to realign intel funds to agencies involved in WPS

byMaricel Cruzand1 others
September 28, 2023, 12:45 am
0
8
House to realign intel funds to agencies involved in WPS

The increasing threats from China in the West Philippine Sea have prompted the House of Representatives to reallocate confidential and...

Read more

Philippines, US navies to hold 2-week exercise

byCharles Dantes
September 28, 2023, 12:40 am
0
8
PH-US joint military drill ‘Kamandag’ starts

The Philippines and United States navies are set to hold a two-week joint naval activity to strengthen international defense cooperation,...

Read more

DOE: Another rollback seen next week, but oil prices remain volatile

byAlena Mae S. Floresand1 others
September 28, 2023, 12:35 am
0
8
Lotilla resigns as AboitizPower director after his appointment as DOE secretary

The Department of Energy (DOE) warned that world oil prices may continue to be volatile despite forecasts of a possible...

Read more

Marcos signs ‘Trabaho’ Act into law to craft job generation masterplan

byCharles Dantesand3 others
September 28, 2023, 12:30 am
0
8
Marcos signs ‘Trabaho’ Act into law to craft job generation masterplan

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday signed into law Republic Act No. 11962 or the “Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act”...

Read more

Resigned OTS chief Aplasca hits ‘cultural decay’ in airport security

byJoel E. Zurbanoand1 others
September 28, 2023, 12:25 am
0
8
NAIA employee gets arrested for stealing watch

Office for Transportation Security (OTS) administrator Ma. O Aplasca, who resigned Tuesday night, has criticized the “cultural decay” within the...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • BingoPlus welcomes new picks at PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft
  • Unleashing the Potential of Tomorrow: GPCCI Mabuhay Germany Event 2023 Set to Drive Innovation and Growth
  • Converge: Answering the call of digitalization
  • Blood drive draws 100 units at SM Camanava Malls
  • My data was reportedly leaked. What should I do? Kaspersky has tips for individuals and companies
  • (no title)
  • Man on a mission: Commissioner Kelvin Lee champions fintech in Philippines, beyond
  • Cignal is official broadcast, digital partner of NBA, NBA 2K League in the PH

Advertisement

Latest News

byManila Standard - Tech
September 28, 2023, 12:30 pm
0
8

 According to Payoneer's SMB Ambitions Barometer, 61% of surveyed small and medium-sized businesses are planning to use artificial intelligence (AI)...

Read more

Man on a mission: Commissioner Kelvin Lee champions fintech in Philippines, beyond

byManila Standard - Tech
September 28, 2023, 12:27 pm
0
8
Man on a mission: Commissioner Kelvin Lee champions fintech in Philippines, beyond

Commissioner Kelvin Lee “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.” Commissioner...

Read more

Cignal is official broadcast, digital partner of NBA, NBA 2K League in the PH

byManila Standard Sports
September 28, 2023, 12:25 pm
0
8
Cignal is official broadcast, digital partner of NBA, NBA 2K League in the PH

Shown here are (from left) NBA Asia Head of Content Partnerships and Direct-to-Consumer Kelly Cooke, NBA Asia Managing Director Ramez...

Read more

PSA deploys ‘PhilSys on Wheels’ to remote areas

byManila Standard Business
September 28, 2023, 11:37 am
0
8
PSA deploys ‘PhilSys on Wheels’ to remote areas

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday it is amplifying efforts to register Filipinos residing in far-flung areas to the...

Read more

PPP Code nears enactment

byManila Standard Business
September 28, 2023, 11:31 am
0
8
PPP Center pushing metro subway mode

The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said Thursday it welcomes the ratification of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the disagreeing...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Pets
  • Tech
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Cravings
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Agriculture
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App