Mamasapano intel official is PNP’s 4th in command

MANILA, Philippines – The senior police official who was part of the intelligence work and sat in a briefing that led to the botched Oplan Exodus in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, is now the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s fourth-in-command.

Police Director Fernando Mendez Jr. was designated Acting Chief of Directorial Staff following the recommendation of the PNP Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board and PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa’s subsequent approval.

Dela Rosa and Mendez are classmates at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Class 1986.

Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, former Chief of Directorial Staff, was promoted to Deputy Chief for Operations. The changes in the Command Group, or the PNP’s 4 highest posts, were triggered by the retirement of Benjamin Magalong, former Deputy Chief for Operations. Apolinario is a 1985 PMA graduate.

The new appointments took effect on Thursday, December 15.

Mendez, who was Director for Personnel prior to his December 15 promotion, was chief of the Intelligence Group (IG) when the PNP’s Special Action Force planned and executed “Oplan Exodus,” a mission to neutralize a wanted terrorist in Mamasapano.

Mendez was present when then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima and then SAF chief Getulio Napeñas briefed then President Benigno Aquino III at his official residence, Bahay Pangarap.

Both Mendez and Napeñas, however, left the room after the briefing, leaving Aquino and Purisima alone.

The operation, an independent police probe later found, was “defective” and packed with “unrealistic expectations” from the get-go. More than 60 people, including 44 of the SAF’s own, died as a result of clashes with local armed groups. 

Mendez was not blamed for the operation, which was designed primarily by the SAF itself.

The intel packet, which Purisima already had prior to his suspension over corruption charges, was the basis for additional intelligence work by both Napeñas and Mendez, sources told Rappler then.

It was Magalong, then Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, who led the police probe.

Dela Rosa also appointed the following senior officials to posts in the PNP directorial staff, regional offices, and national support units:

• Chief Superintendent Ramon Purugganan – Acting Director for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM);
• CSupt Edwin C Roque – the Acting Director for Plans (DPL);
• CSupt Glenn G Dumlao – Acting Director, Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG); and
• Senior Superintendent Manolo N Ozaeta – Acting Director, Legal Service;
• CSupt Sheldon Jacaban – Acting Deputy Director, Director for Intelligence (DI);
• SSupt Renato C Angara – Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration (ADRDA), Police Regional Office 2 (PRO 2);
• SSupt Jose A Briones Jr – ADRDA, PRO 12;
• SSupt Froilan F Quidilla – ADRDA, PRO MIMAROPA; and  
• CSupt Frankling Moises R Mabanag – ADRDA, PRO 7

– Rappler.com