Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima and Dir. Getulio Napeñas — along with nine other officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) — will undergo preliminary investigation over administrative and criminal complaints filed against them in connection with a bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao some six months ago.
This developed after Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved the recommendation of a special panel of field investigators looking into the January gunfight that left 44 police commandos dead.
In a media briefing on Wednesday (July 22), Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said Purisima and Napeñas — together with Chief Supt. Fernando Mendez Jr. of the PNP PNP Intelligence Group — could be charged with grave misconduct and violation of Section 3(a) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“Purisima, Napeñas and Mendez convinced one another to commit a violation of the law as what happened in the conduct of operation under Mamapasano,” Rafanan explained.
Depending on the result of the preliminary investigation, he added that Purisima could also be charged with usurpation of official functions under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.
Administratively, Purisima and Napeñas also have a complaint of neglect of duty filed against them, along with the following officials:
Chief Supt. Noli Taliño
Senior Supt. Richard Dela Rosa
Senior Supt. PSSupt. Edgar Monsalve
Senior Supt. Abraham Abayari
Senior Supt. Raymund Train
Senior Supt. Michael John Mangahis
Senior Supt. Rey Ariño
Senior Insp. Recaredo Marasigan
Rafanan noted that the Office of the Ombudsman’s field investigators were the ones who acted as complainants in these cases.
He explained that President Benigno Aquino III was cleared of any criminal liability since the chief executive gave specific orders to Purisima to coordinate with the military in executing the operation to get international terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman.
Rafanan also pointed out that the complaints were separate from those yet to be filed by the team composed of representatives of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Last April, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said her deparment was readying the first batch of complaints against 90 Moro rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in connection with the death of 35 blocking force troopers of the 55th Special Action Company (SAC) in the cornfields of Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano.
Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe said she was glad with the development.
“I also call on the Department of Justice to resolve the issue on the culpability of those who engaged the SAF 44 — those from the MILF, BIFF and private armed groups,” she said.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Poe submitted a report on March 19 saying that SAF troopers were slaughtered and stripped of belongings by Islamist rebels and private armed groups.
The report also noted that Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas broke protocols and regulations in carrying out Oplan Exodus.
