“Papayag na lamang ba kaming hindi sya dadalo? Hindi man umattend si Gen. Purisima sa unang pagdinig, kung kinakailangang magpadala ng mas malakas na demand o subpoena, yan po ay ating kailangang gawin para malaman kung ano ang dapat gawin. Para sakin, mahuhusgahan lamang natin ang tao sa kanyang pagkilos,” Poe told radio dzBB.
The Senate committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs as well as the committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation will start their investigations into the Mamasapano clash on Wednesday, February 4.
Poe said she wanted Purisima to appear before the Senate to explain why he was involved in the clash, despite his suspension over graft charges.
“Siya ay inimbitahan natin dahil lumalabas ang kanyang pangalan, at may mga katanungan ding katulad ng kung hindi alam ni Sec. Mar Roxas, at di alam ni Gen. Espina na siyang PNP OIC ngayon, sino ang nag-utos? Kailangan yan ng logistics, kailangan ng pera, anong opisina ang nag-provide nyan kung hindi DILG?” Poe said.
Poe also warned that if the investigations discover that Purisima was involved in the Mamasapano operation, his suspension might become permanent.
“Kahit na sabihin mong on-leave siya ngayon, may pagkakataon pa, pagkatapos ng anim na buwan, na siya ay bumalik, kung sakali. At siguro namang hindi natin makakalimutan ang nakakalungkot na pangyayaring ito na nawawala siya. So kung tatanungin mo ang marami sa atin, marahil ang sasabihin din nila ay hindi karapat-dapat na mamuno ang isang ganyan,” she said.
Some 44 Special Action Force police commandos were killed, with 16 others were injured, last weekend, in an 11-hour long firefight with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters gunmen, and fighters the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The elite police commandos had entered the MILF-controlled area to serve a warrant of arrest on Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, when the “misencounter” erupted.
Other than Purisima, Poe said Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, PNP Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and relieved PNP SAF commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. would also be invited to the Senate.
Likewise, government peace panel negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) negotiator Mohagher Iqbal will also be invited to attend. — Patricia Denice Chiu/DVM, GMA News
