Napeñas denies Binay is using him

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) director and senatorial aspirant Getulio Napeñas on Monday stressed that he believes that Vice President Jejomar Binay is innocent despite the corruption allegations against him.

Napeñas said in an interview with ANC's Headstart that the vice president is not using him to press the Mamasapano issue against the administration.

"Hindi ako naniniwala. Hindi ako nagpagamit o ginagamit. Nakita n'yo 'yong prinsipyo, 'yong aking pagtatanggol dun sa Mamasapano investigation," Napeñas said.

The former SAF chief cited that among the presidential aspirants, Binay was the only one who acknowledged the heroism of the SAF commandos. Forty-four of them were killed during an encounter with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January.

Napeñas added that President Benigno Aquino III did not acknowledge the sacrifice of the 44 SAF commandos.

"Hindi ko nakita na in-acknowledge niya 'yung kabayanihan openly in the public... even in all his speeches," Napeñas said.

He said that Aquino should be blamed for the Mamasapano incident as he the one on top of the chain of command. Napeñas explained that Aquino could have sent reinforcements for the SAF troopers.

"The president has all the power to do that nung nandodoon sila sa Zamboanga, nandoon lahat ng matataas na pinuno. I believe in that," Napeñas said.

The former SAF director said that he will focus on improving the country's "very weak" criminal justice system if ever he wins a seat in the Senate next year.

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