Former PNP Special Action Force (SAF) commander Getulio Napenas Jr. felt burdened by the deaths of the 44 elite members of the PNP’s most elite forces during the January 25 operation in Mamasapano. The PNP-SAF commander felt betrayed by his own superiors who gave the order to conduct the operation only to be abandoned.
During an interview with ABS-CBN, the former SAF chief noted that he was abandoned by lack of military support and then being blamed fo the deaths of his men after following the orders from his superiors. He even described his men as brothers and the SAF as a family sworn to do their sworn duty to follow orders.
After the former SAF chief felt betrayed by his superiors he finally spoke with what on his mind right now. He was quoted as saying “Napakabigat na ibabato sa’yo lahat ng responsibilidad pati ‘yung sisi at kasalanan after all nitong mga nangyari na. Siguro kung maganda ito, baka hindi ako makikilala pero ang pinakamabigat doon, ang feeling namin, ang piling ng SAF, we were abandoned in the air nung nagkaproblema. To us, that’s the highest form of betrayal…Left hanging in the air nung nagkaproblema,” he said.
“Highest form of betrayal sa tao mo. Inutusan mo, binigyan mo ng trabaho, then pagdating doon sa ground, nung nagkaproblema sisisihin mo pa. Ngayon ay ibubunton mo lahat sa kanya ‘yung pagsisisi at kasalanan,” he said.
During the previous reports from various news media organization, President Aquino accused Napenas of disobeying his order to coordinate the Mamasapano mission with the Philippine military since the SAF could enter 3,000-4,000 hostiles in the area.
The Philippine President noted that Napenas could have aborted the mission after it deviated from the operational plan but pushed through anyaway. The former SAF Chief, noted that it was suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima who told him that the PNP OIC Leonardo Espina and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas need not be informed about the Mamasapano operation beforehand but only “time on target.”