More testimonies on US involvement

A military officer told a reporter that he saw eight Americans in civilian clothes with military bearing at the Special Action Force (SAF) command post at Sharif Aguak with SAF Director Getulio Napeñas, who was directing the mission from the said post set up in an abandoned base of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The Americans were monitoring the “Oplan Exodus” from the base.

Napeñas, however, denied any United States involvement in the mission to get Marwan, except in the medical evacuation of the casualties.

The US embassy continues to deny it had anything to do with the project. However, it admitted the provision of an aerial vehicle to track down the fleeing SAF troopers until they were rescued by police and Army reinforcements.

Witnesses – a male farmer, students from the Linantangan Elementary School, and few Tukanalipao residents – have seen a Caucasian male fatality among the remains of SAF members after the armed encounter.

A US involvement in the actual combat operation in Mamasapano is a violation of the 1987 Constitution, which bans foreign troops from directly engaging in armed combat in the country.

Meanwhile, the House, in a surprise move, indefinitely suspended its two days parallel probe of the Mamasapano massacre on Tuesday and Wednesday until the board of inquiry (BOI) had submitted the results of its own probe on the death of the 44 SAF troopers. Fifty congressmen had lined up to ask questions.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the cancellation of the two days hearings was due to pressure from Malacañang to further protect the President from further claims of cover-up.  So far, the probes, both in the Senate and in the House, point to President Aquino as the most accountable for the botched bloody Mamasapano operation.    

Executive session at the Senate

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, held a second executive session on Tuesday to question resigned PNP chief General Alan Purisima, SAF Intelligence Group director, Senior Supt. Fernando Mendez; and two surviving SAF troopers. Her panel wanted to know the extent of the foreign involvement in the police mission.

Two hours after the interview session of Director Mendez, Poe  said that their panel didn’t see any cover-up. She has also denied speculations that the Senate is trying to cover-up for a particular personality.

Poe said the executive session has been helping them to gather more details in getting the full picture of the Mamasapano incident. She, however, added that more questions have come up that might need more public hearings.

In regards with the U.S. involvement, Poe refused to comment saying it involves diplomatic relations. But Poe assured the executive session is in line with the Senate mandate to conduct inquiry in aid of legislation.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said the Senate committee will conduct one or two more hearings.

Marwan e-mails

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano have released to Senate reporters copies of e-mails between Marwan and his brother Rahmat, starting in 2006-2007.

In one e-mail, Marwan told Rahmat that the SAF raided his hideout but were repulsed by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerillas.

In another e-mail, Marwan asked his brother to send him accessories for firearms, back packs, knives, two-way radios and arms publications. There is no doubt in my mind that the MILF was protecting Marwan and allowed him to stay in their territory.

The MILF has to explain why it protected Marwan and Usman.

The MILF must also show convincing proof that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), headed by former  commander of the MILF’s 105th Base Command Umbra Kato, is not an ally.

The MILF should assist in the capture of Kato, who has an existing warrant of arrest.

Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles expressed the view that with the Mamasapano massacre, he cannot trust the MILF.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), head Teresita “Ging” Deles, still trusts the MILF.

Even Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House ad-hoc committee on the BBL, has committed to remove all the unconstitutional sections, including the section which allows towns and barangays by just a 10 percent petition of its residents to join the Bangsamoro territory.

A new twist

Former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales has confirmed that former Congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, the President’s uncle, has joined the movement to ask his nephew to step down.

But Cojuangco clarifies their initiative is not a prelude to a coup or military takeover. 

Asked if he was the rich man funding the coup as revealed by Senator Miriam Santiago, Peping said: “No I’m not because I’m not in favor of a coup. I am against a military takeover. But I am in favor of major reforms or change in leadership.”

Gonzales also admitted he was part of the group asking the President to step down. “When we say stepping down, we are talking regime change,” Gonzales added.

Cojuangco joins the call of Gonzales for the establishment of a transition government, through National Transition Council (NTC), led by five bishops.

Tidbits

Seven New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in a firefight with Army troops in Sarangani.

Senator Ralph Recto is correct to ask the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to build a concrete bridge in Mamasapano to replace the rickety bamboo bridge after seen on television.

MRT-3 suffered four breakdowns on Monday and Tuesday.

Rep. Manny Pacquiao attended the birthday party of Rep. Gina de Venecia.