Purisima ready to face charges over Mamasapano – lawyer

MANILA, Philippines –  Resigned Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima is ready to face any charges that may be filed against him over his role in the botched Mamasapano operation, his lawyer said on Friday, March 13.

“Of course. General Purisima will respond to any allegation, to any charges at the proper time and at the proper forum,” lawyer Kristoffer James Purisima said in an interview on ANC, when asked if his client is ready to face charges following the release of the police report on the January 25 operation.

In a statement, the lawyer took exception to the statement of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II that the former PNP chief is to blame for the January 25 tragedy where 67 people were killed, including 44 elite cops, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front members, and 5 civilians.

“It appears that the Secretary is prejudging the case and playing to certain sectors of the public. I would caution against entertaining conclusions at this stage,” the lawyer said.

He added: “The mandate of the BOI (Board of Inquiry) was fact-finding in nature. That is different from finding fault or liability. There is a separate process for that. We shall respond to allegations at the proper time and in the proper forum.”

In a news briefing after receiving a copy of the BOI report on Mamasapano on Friday, Roxas cleared President Benigno Aquino III of any liability in the operation, and said the former PNP chief should be primarily held liable for the tragedy.

The BOI concluded that Purisima acted without authority when he continued to deal with then Special Action Force commander Director Getulio Napeñas up to the day of the operation, January 25, when he was already serving a suspension order issued against him in December 2014.

Like Aquino, the former top cop had blamed Napeñas for the failed operation. – Rappler.com