PNoy didn’t violate any law during Mamasapano mission –Palace

After countering the Board of Inquiry’s conclusion that President Benigno Aquino III broke the police’s chain of command during the Mamasapano mission, Malacañang on Monday continued to be on defense mode, this time asserting that Aquino didn’t do anything illegal during the mission.

In a television interview, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino will never commit an act that violates the country’s laws.

"Hindi po ibinababa iyong pagturing doon sa pangkahalatang findings ng BOI. Nagka-clarify lang po para malinaw sa ating mga kababayan na hindi po lumalabag sa batas ang ating Pangulo,” he said.

The Palace official maintained that Aquino made sure that all relevant authorities will be informed about the Mamasapano mission last January 25, which left over 60 people dead, including 44 elite policemen.

"Sa lahat po ng pagkilos ng Pangulo, mahalaga sa kaniya iyong pagtalima sa batas. Kaya iyan po ang dahilan kung bakit nililinaw doon sa pahayag na wala pong na-violate na konsepto sa batas o sa regulasyon ng ating Pangulo sapagka’t ginagampanan niya iyong kaniyang pagiging Chief Executive,” Coloma said.

On Saturday, Aquino’s spokesman, Secretary Edwin Lacierda, released a statement saying that Aquino did not break the Philippine National Police’s chain of command during the Mamasapano incident.

Lacierda maintained that Aquino has “full and absolute control over every official” in the PNP, which he pointed out is civilian in nature. He also said that the chain of command principle is only applicable within the police force.

In its report on the Mamasapano incident, the BOI said that while Aquino has the prerogative to directly coordinate with his subordinate, he “bypassed” the PNP chain of command when he dealt directly with relieved PNP Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas Jr., instead of PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

‘Hindsight’

Coloma further maintained that the President gave clear instructions to Napeñas and then-suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima to inform Espina about the Mamasapano mission.

"Nilinaw din ng Pangulo na isa sa mahalaga niyang kautusan ay iyong pagbibigay-alam kay PNP OIC Chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina na dapat ito ay pagsabihan hinggil sa operasyon. Ngunit ayon na nga rin sa kaniyang pahayag, hindi nasunod ang mahalagang instruction na ito,” he said.

Asked why the President talked to Purisma instead of Espina, Coloma said, “Kasi lahat nito, pinag-uusapan natin from hindsight. Pero kahit naman kilalanin natin na naibigay iyong utos kay General Purisima at pati na rin, palagay ko ‘no, kay Director Napeñas ay nandoon pa rin iyong conscious effort sa parte ng ating Pangulo na ipagbigay-alam ito.”

On January 25, 44 SAF members were killed when an operation to arrest high-profile terrorists resulted in a clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The firefight erupted despite a peace deal and a ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the Philippine government.

Eighteen MILF fighters and at least five civilians were also killed in the encounter.  —KBK, GMA News