PNP top spy who supplied Oplan Exodus intelligence packet recommended for general rank

From InterAksyon (Mar 28): PNP top spy who supplied Oplan Exodus intelligence packet recommended for general rank

The top intelligence officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP), who is reportedly close to resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, is among senior officers being recommended by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) to President Benigno Aquino III for promotion to chief superintendent, or brigadier general in the military.

Senior Supt. Fernando Mendez Jr., currently Acting Director of the PNP Intelligence Group (IG), had provided the intelligence packet used by Purisima and former Special Action Force (SAF) Director Getulio Napeñas for their Oplan Exodus, the objective of which was to arrest high-value target terrorists on January 25 in the municipality of Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The disastrous mission reportedly killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir *nom de guerre Marwan) but missed Filipino bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman and another Malaysian terrorist, Amin Baco alias Jihad.

While the SAF commandos were withdrawing, a combined force of hundreds of fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and one of its factions, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and some private armed groups (PAGs) waylaid them, resulting in the massacre of 44 of the commandos. The MILF claimed that they, too, lost 17 men. Reports said three civilians died in the crossfire.

The name of Mendez name was repeatedly mentioned by Napeñas during media interviews and in the Senate hearings and one hearing of the House of Representatives as the source of the intelligence packet that guided the planning and implementation of Oplan Exodus, which was approved by Aquino.

Aside from Mendez, the nine other senior superintendents, whose promotions are up for President Aquino's approval, are Billy Beltran, Acting Secretary of the Directorial Staff, Office of the Chief Directorial Staff; Joel Victor Canapi, Acting Executive Officer, Directorate for Comptrollership; Rolando Felix, Acting Executive Officer, Directorate for Operations; Eric Serafin Reyes, Acting Chief, National Operations Center, Directorate for Operations; Marrieto Valerio, Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Police Regional Office (PRO) 6; Eddie Benigay, Acting Regional Director, Regional Internal Affairs Service 7; Sergio Dimandal, Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Police Regional Office 10; Robert Quenery, Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration, PRO Cordillera; and Noel Armilla, Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration, PRO-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).  

NAPOLCOM Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Eduardo Escueta said that also up for promotion to the Police Director rank (Major General in the military) are Chief Supt. Christopher Laxa, Acting Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development, and Chief Supt. Dominador Aquino Jr., Acting Director for Integrated Police Operations – Eastern Mindanao.

"The Commission recommended the promotion to two-star rank of Police Chief Superintendents Laxa and Aquino since their present positions call for the rank of Police Director," Escueta said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/107864/pnp-top-spy-who-supplied-oplan-exodus-intelligence-packet-recommended-for-general-rank