Aquino: Trusting Napeñas during Mamasapano clash was my biggest mistake

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said trusting Philippine National Police-Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas to handle the botched Mamasapano mission in 2015 was his biggest mistake as president during that period.

"Kung may kasalanan po ako bilang Pangulo nung panahong iyon, ito po: Ni minsan, hindi pumasok sa isip kong magagawa ni Napeñas na magsinungaling sa Pangulo ng Pilipinas," Aquino said in his official response to President Rodrigo Duterte's recent statements about the Mamasapano operation.

"Pinagkatiwalaan ko ang isang two-star police officer, na ako pa mismo ang nagpromote. Naniwala akong itong graduate ng PMA (Philippine Military Academy) ay tatalima sa values ng paaralan na Courage, Integrity, Loyalty," he added.

Aquino said the Mamasapano clash, which killed at least 60 people, including the 44 SAF commandos and terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir also known as "Marwan", could not have happened had  Napeñas followed his "logical" and legal order.

The former president argued that when Napeñas presented his "Oplan Exodus", he said that he would use 160 Seaborne operatives who can handle over 3,000 potential armed men. Due to this, Aquino ordered him to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He asked the former SAF director to prepare the mechanized units, artillery, planes, commandos and other assets to prevent the intercession.

Aquino added that Napeñas said coordination would only be in place once they are moving the operation which the former president said he disagreed with. The former SAF director was ordered to impose the coordination days ahead but he allegedly did not follow.

The Senate probe into the Mamasapano operation also revealed that an estimated of 70 Seaborne operatives were used as 54 of them were operators.

"Alam na po natin ang nangyari: Ang atas para mag-coordinate na dapat 'days before', naging 'time after target', gaya ng sinabi na rin ng Senate Committee Report. Dahil walang coordination, ang AFP, nagkandarapa, dahil yung mga detalyeng dapat alam nila, gaya ng sino ang tutulungan at saan, saka pa lang nila inaalam," Aquino said.

"Hindi ko maiwasang isipin: Kung sinunod lang ang lohikal at legal kong utos, hindi mangyayari ang trahedya sa Mamasapano," he added.

On Tuesday, Duterte claimed Aquino and then PNP Director General Alan Purisima hid from the public that the encounter was an operation of the United States' Central Intelligence Agency. This was denied by Aquino saying he only transacted with Filipino men.