Justice Sec. de Lima says no law prohibits Pres. Aquino from consulting former PNP Chief Purisma

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has said that President Benigno S. Aquino III did not violate any law when he consulted then suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Alan Purisima regarding the police operation to apprehend two terrorist suspects in Maguindanao.

“No law prohibits the President from exercising his discretion to get the views of a suspended official on a particular matter if this would raise the confidence level of the President's executive decision-making, so long as the act does not involve the performance of official functions pertaining to the post from which the official concerned was suspended,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. on Tuesday quoted Secretary de Lima as saying.

Coloma was responding to a question from reporters whether the President violated any law when he consulted Purisima over the operation. According to the President, Purisima was helping him with the “jargons” to better understand the operation.

Suspended chief of the police’s Special Action Force (SAF) Director Getulio Napeñas has told the Senate inquiry that he, Purisima and PNP Intelligence Group Director Sr. Supt. Fernando Mendez briefed the President regarding the operation last Jan. 9 at Bahay Parangap, inside the Malacañang Compound.

Coloma noted that Bahay Pangarap is the official residence of the President “where he also receives visitors and conducts meetings.”

He declined to give further comments, saying it would be “inappropriate to give comments at this time because the testimonies given by individual resource persons need to be understood in the proper context.”

“It is also important to await the findings of the PNP Board of Inquiry and other fact-finding bodies which are conducting similar inquiries,” he added.

The police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25 succeeded in neutralizing Malaysian terrorist suspect, Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, but led to the death of 44 members of the SAF. The other terrorist suspect, Abdul Basit Usman, however eluded arrest. (PCOO News Release)

Former MNLF commander urges MILF to attend congressional probe to explain their side
A former commander of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) turned politician on Tuesday urged the hierarchy of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to attend the Senate hearing to explain their side and clarify things on the Jan. 25 clash with police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

This was the message of Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong after the MILF did not show up at the Senate investigation on Monday and Tuesday and instead sent a message addressed to Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs.

“This is an opportunity for them (MILF) to explain their side to release doubt because if they will continue resisting, if they are not going to face the investigation, so the impression of the people that they are the one at fault,” Loong said.

Loong said he was one who voted to defer the House deliberation of the BBL “because we want the truth to come out now we cannot make our own judgment until finally truth will come out.”

“We in the House of Representative just want to act on the basis of executive agreement between the executive government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. But we cannot also sacrifice the highest interest of the country because the one who is now affected is the public sentiment of the whole country. We have to accommodate that sentiment but on the part of the MILF, they must also come out to open and explain their side if they did not commit any mistake,” he said.

The MILF and the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) clashed and killed 44 Special Action Force (SAF) operatives on an anti-terrorist mission last Jan. 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“They have to justify their position. Now if they are committing something wrong -- so meaning that is a violation of the agreement entered into between the government and the MILF so these are the issues we are going to erase from the public impression if we want this BBL to go forward,” he said.

According to Loong, the prolonged non-appearance of the MILF at the ongoing Senate investigation will further condition the mind of the public that they are at fault. (PNA)