Efforts to pinpoint responsibility in last year’s bloody Mamasapano operation in Maguindanao ended in another blame game among officials involved in the operation, senators, and allies of the administration. Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, who sought the reopening of the Senate inquiry claimed President Aquino “compartmentalized” Oplan Exodus, the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) operation to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as “Marwan,” in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, between him and then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima. “When I say (he) compartmented Oplan Exodus, I mean that President Aquino intentionally, deliberately, and actually confined and arrogated unto himself and Purisima full knowledge, command, and control, and strategic decisions over Oplan Exodus,” Enrile said at the Senate joint committee hearing on the incident. During the hearing, administration allies attempted to clear President Aquino by pinning the blame on Napeñas and Purisima. Senate President Franklin Drilon, said there is [...]
