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| Binay to Purisima: Why quit if you are not guilty? |
If resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima really believed he could not be faulted for the deadly police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month, he should not have quit his post in the first place, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay.
“It would have been better had he clarified his involvement in Mamasapano at the outset. And if he did not commit any transgression as he claims, then why did he resign his post?” the Vice President said yesterday.
President Aquino – in a nationwide televised address Friday night – announced “with a heavy heart” his acceptance of the resignation of Purisima, who later granted interviews and denied involvement in the bloody Mamasapano clash.
Binay also noted contradictions between Purisima’s pronouncements and those of relieved Special Action Forces (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas and other sources “who claim that (Purisima) was heavily involved in the planning and implementation of the operation even though he was suspended during that time.”
SAF commandos were on their way out of a remote village in Mamasapano after killing high value international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, when they encountered hundreds of heavily armed guerrillas belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
The hours-long fighting left scores dead, including 44 SAF commandos who had waited for reinforcements that never came.
The Vice President reiterated his position supporting an independent, transparent and fair investigation.
He noted that what Purisima said – and did not say – stoked fears that a cover-up may have begun.
“In the absence of an independent fact-finding commission created by law, it is incumbent on all Filipinos to closely monitor the proceedings to ensure that they are transparent, fair and non-partisan even if the main person involved is a close friend of the President,” he said.
“It is also paramount that the families of the policemen who died in Mamasapano are informed of the entirety of what really transpired,” he added.
Binay also said it should be emphasized that Purisima only resigned from his post and not from the service.
“This (quitting the service) is not allowed by law because of a pending complaint against him. One of the penalties imposed by law on government employees is the forfeiture of their benefits from the government,” the Vice President said.
“Thus it should be clarified and emphasized that as long as the investigation is ongoing, Purisima should not be allowed to claim his benefits,” he added.
Unanswered questions
Meanwhile, militant lawmakers said President Aquino has only absolved himself, pinned the blame on others and failed to answer key questions in his second public address over the deaths of 44 SAF members.
“Once again, President Aquino refused to admit responsibility but instead blamed the SAF and its commander for not aborting the operations when he and former PNP chief Gen. Purisima had the command of the whole operations,” said Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares.
He said Aquino accepted Purisima’s resignation without explaining the latter’s role in the operations.
Since he is under suspension, Purisima can only command the operation upon Aquino’s orders, he said.
“He (Aquino) is therefore guiltier than his friend and subordinate Purisima and should be the one to resign,” Colmenares said.
“Clearly, President Aquino is merely interested in avoiding accountability by blaming others. His blaming of the SAF is unacceptable and is an insult to the SAF44 and their grieving families,” he said.
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said the address was a “classic ‘Boy Sisi (blame boy)’ statement still because even when he said that he was accepting responsibility for the Mamasapano fiasco, he merely absolved himself and Gen. Purisima of direct responsibility.”
source: yahoo
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