MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday, January 30, urged suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima to break his silence over a police operation in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao that left 44 elite cops dead. 

In a statement, Binay said Purisima should address various news reports that said the chief played a part in the operation despite serving a preventive suspension over his supposed involvement in an anomalous deal in Camp Crame. 

“Dapat ding basagin na ni General Purisima ang kanyang katahimikan. Sa lahat ng lumalabas na ulat, nandoon palagi ang pangalan ni Purisima bilang pangunahing nagplano at nagpatupad ng nasabing operasyon kahit siya ay suspendido na sa kanyang tungkulin,” he said. 

(General Purisima should break his silence. In all the news reports that are coming out, Purisima’s name is always mentioned as the lead commander of the said operation despite his suspension)

Binay and Purisima are both plagued with accusations of corruption: Binay, allegedly during his stint as Makati mayor and Purisima, when he was PNP chief. 

President Benigno Aquino II has been a staunch defender of the PNP chief, a friend of his since 1987. 

Bloody Sunday 

Some 392 members of the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) on Sunday, January 25 entered Mamasapano, a known bailiwick of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to kill two “high value” targets: bomb maker Zulkifli Abdhir, alias “Marwan” and Abdulbasit Usman. 

Marwan is believed to have been killed in the operation, which Rappler sources said was really led by Purisima. Aquino said he was in direct communication with relieved PNP SAF commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas Jr but did not say if he green-lit the operation or not. 

Binay said other questions remain unanswered, despite news briefings on what the government is calling a “misencounter.” 

“Sino ba ang nagplano at nag-utos ng operasyon? Sino sa bahagi ng MILF at BIFF ang nag-utos na tambangan ang mga miyembro ng SAF? (Who planned and commanded the operation? Who in the MILF and the BIFF have orders to kill the SAF troopers?)” Binay asked.

The deaths of the 44 SAF commandos, of 10 MILF members, and of civilians during the clash are threatening to derail ongoing peace talks between the government and the MILF. Several lawmakers have cast doubts over the peace process, withdrawing support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law. 

Binay in an earlier statement said “utmost caution” must be exercised in finishing the peace deal. 

The Vice President, who earlier Friday joined a walk for justice for the slain SAF commandos, said the best way to honor the memory of the slain cops is to ensure they get justice. 

“Huwag din nating hayaan na mangibabaw ang galit at sa halip ay lalo pa nating pag-ibayuhin ang ating pagtahak sa landas ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao at sa ating mahal na bayang Pilipinas (Let’s not allow anger to get the best of us. Instead, let’s work harder to achieve peace in Mindanao and the rest of the country),” added Binay. – Rappler.com