Aquino was given inaccurate, false information — Palace

Suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima with President Benigno Simeon Aquino III (Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA  – Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on Monday reiterated that President Benigno Aquino III has been given “inaccurate and false information” on “Oplan Exodus”.

Coloma made this reaction on the pronouncement of Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima that President Aquino made an error in judgment on the Mamasapano incident that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos dead.

”In her (previous) statement, DOJ Secretary De Lima said the President has no criminal liability and that he was given inaccurate and false information,” Coloma said in a text message to Malacanang media.

Coloma said the DOJ Secretary affirmed the previous statements by the President regarding the mission to arrest two-high profile terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman on January 25.

“She affirmed previous statements by the President on this matter,” Coloma said.

Marwan, a notorious international terrorist who has USD 5 million bounty on his head, was killed in the operation that also resulted in the killing of the 44 SAF troopers.

The 44 of the 392 SAF troopers were killed in an encounter with the combined combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who allegedly alarmed by a booby trap that exploded near the house of Marwan.