P-Noy knew SAF operation

President Aquino, in his speech on Wednesday evening, admitted that Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) Director General Getulio Napeñas Jr. cleared the Mamasapano operation with him. He even directed him to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), an operation in Maguindanao which resulted in the death of 44 members of the elite unit at the hands of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) members.

Aquino also said that Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr. did not know about the SAF operation in his capacity as chairman of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. He monitored “Operation Wolverine” from Zamboanga City.

Earlier, in a press conference, in Cotabato City, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director-General Leonardo Espina said the Mamasapano operation was not cleared with them.

It is now clear that suspended PNP Director General Alan Purisima continued to be consulted by President Aquino about the SAF plan to arrest suspected Malaysian bomb maker Jemaah Islamiya leader Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Commander Marwan, even if he was serving a six-month preventive suspension because of a graft charge before the Ombudsman.

In fact, the President admitted General Purisima had explained to him the intricacies of the planned operation. General Napeñas admitted he coordinated with Purisima.

It is a sad commentary on the tactical handling by the Aquino administration of a major operation like “Operation Wolverine,” involving 392 police commandos to arrest two “high-value targets,” alleged bomb makers Marwan and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman.     

The Interior secretary and the PNP OIC director-general were not brought into the planning by the President.

Even SAF Director General Napeñas must be faulted for not clearing “Operation Wolverine” with his superiors, Interior Secretary Roxas and OIC PNP Director Espina.

Misencounter

MILF Chairman Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim said that the Mamasapano clash was a “misencounter.” He did not deny that the MILF’s 105th base command engaged the PNP-SAF commanders in a firefight.

If that is to be accepted, then the MILF must return the  4 machineguns, more than 30 M-16 rifles, night vision goggles, mortars, bullets, and hand-held radios of the SAF. They must also return the boots, uniforms, and cellphones confiscated by the MILF.

President Aquino has asked for the names of the MILF rebels who took part in the “misencounter”; something also demanded by Congressmen Leopoldo Bataoil, Samuel Pagdilao, Gary Alejano, Ashley Acedillo, Silvestre Bello and Rodolfo Biazon.

The MILF cannot be fully absolved of any wrongdoing in this incident. The 44 SAF men are entitled to some form of retaliation.

The PNP Academy Alumni Association, which is planning to file criminal and civil complaints against BIFF and MILF, earlier said it is mulling whether to ask its 4,000 members in active service to take a five-day leave from their posts.

It is not acceptable that PNP OIC Director General Espina did not know about the “Operation Wolverine.” There was large movement of troops from several regions to Maguindanao so there must have been release of guns and bullets, not to mention funds.

Espina should now go on terminal leave.

Wrong move again

Netizens have criticized President Aquino for not being at Villamor Airbase during the arrival honors for the slain PNP-SAF officers. We agree with them.   

The necrological service for the officers had to be paused due to the late arrival of the president.

He could have postponed the inauguration of a Japanese plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna for a day or two, or postpone it to the afternoon.

Vice President Jojo Binay, Senator Nancy Binay, Senator Bongbong Marcos, former President Ramos and Interior Secretary Roxas led the officials receiving the bodies at Villamor Airbase.

Junjun Binay dragged

Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay was literally dragged by three Senate sergeant-at-arms personnel from his detention room on the ground floor to the Senate Session Hall.

He showed bruises on his left arm and news TV cameras showed him being dragged into the session hall.

This is unfortunate. This is the first time in Senate history of a resource person being dragged against his will to attend a committee hearing.

Who ordered the sergeant-at-arms to physically drag him to the session hall? Senate President Franklin Drilon must investigate this himself.

Senator Koko Pimentel, probably realizing the bad actuations of the Senate personnel, was quick to remedy the situation by ordering the release of Mayor Binay.

Former Senators Joker Arroyo and Rene Saguisag were at the Senate to support Mayor Binay and raised questions on the actuations of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee.

They correctly pointed out that for such a serious action like citing a resource person in contempt and ordering his arrest, it is not acceptable that only two senators in a Senate of twenty-one con make that decision.

More crimes

The assistant city engineer of Meycauayan, Reynaldo Rivera, 50, was shot dead by two men riding-in-tandem in a motorcycle.

PO1 Niño Atienza, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Agoncillo, Batangas.

Kale Hugo coffee shop, Leloyz Spa and Fiesta Food Inc. restaurant and a furniture shop were held up one after the other in Quezon City.

Jesus Viray, 40, of the Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENPELCO), was shot dead in San Carlos City.

Two persons were killed in a bomb explosion in Pikit, Cotabato.

Tidbits

Congratulation to Vice Governor Rhodora Cadiao for her assumption of office as Governor of Antique.

Greetings to Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) national president Vicente Joyas.