Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. (file photo)
Despite the insistence of two lawmakers, including a former Armed Forces chief, that it was not a national security issue, sacked Special Action Force commander Getulio Napenas on Wednesday refused to say why the finger taken from the body believed to be that of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was given to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Prodded by Representatives Niel Tupas Jr. of Iloilo and Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa, a retired military chief, Napenas stood firm in his position that he would discuss the matter only in executive session, claiming that doing so in public would endanger the lives of his operatives.
“I insist on a reply,” Tupas, a lawyer said, as he pointed out that his question involved a question of “custody of evidence” and not national security.
Tupas was seconded by Biazon, who maintained that “national security is not at stake here. This is an administrative question.”
Both lawmakers raised the possibility of citing Napenas in contempt.
However, Negros Occidental Representative Jeffrey Ferrer, chairman of the committee on public order and safety, cut in and pointed out that Napenas had not refused to answer the question, only that he would do so in executive session because he believes "this is part of national security that could not be exposed."
The finger of the man said to be Marwan was taken for DNA samples by the FBI.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/104866/is-giving-evidence-to-the-fbi-a-national-security-issue-lawmakers-say-no-but-napenas-stands-pat
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