The Jan. 9 Bahay Pangarap Meeting: The Napeñas Testimony

         “On January 9, 2015, we, the President, PNP Chief Purisima, and I met in Bahay Pangarap xxx and Operation Exodus was finalized …” – former SAF chief Napeñas.

            i hate to say this but because Operation Wolverine/ Operation Terminator/ Operation Exodus (to capture international terrorist Marwan dead or alive) was a covert operation, and the President chose to head or oversee the operation, he had the prerogative of choosing the personnel, the means, the method, the weapons, the time, and the manner — as long as he was not breaking the law.

        That’s the caveat. As long as all his acts were lawful. (and he would account for them).

          He knew there would be a firefight in a rebel stronghold — but he hoped the strike would be surgical, he knew it would breach the ceasefire but he thought it would be excusable under “law-enforcement” processes of the government, he knew it was risky and dangerous but he hoped there would be less casualties as the Ceasefire Committee (“Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities”) should be able to stop the firefight soon enough, he knew PNP Chief Alan Purisima was under preventive suspension, but he was the head of state, the Chief Executive (“cite me in contempt”, he’d say).

           They got Marwan alright (congratulations), but he miscalculated — in many ways in many different levels with 44 SAF forces to show for it.

           What was unforgiveable was the refusal to account for it. And so, a hundred investigating bodies bloomed.

        (the Palace advisers surrounding him are too keen on the 2016 elections and the fortunes of their political party)

          Instead of learning from the miscalculations for future operations, he is expending precious resources on mitigating the cost of his miscalculations.

        Bite the bullet — and leave a legacy of courage and accountability.