There was neither a willful violation of the
Philippine National Police’s (PNP) chain of command, nor a disregard for the
law, on the part of President Benigno S. Aquino III during the implementation
of the operation to hunt down suspected terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao
last January, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.
“Wala pong ganyang intensyon (break the chain of command) dahil sa lahat ng pagkakataon, ang Pangulo po natin ay sinusuri ang kongkretong batayan sa Konstitusyon at sa batas sa lahat ng kanyang pagkilos,” he said.
Secretary Coloma noted that whether the President is Commander-in-Chief or Chief Executive of the PNP, the principle is the same and it all comes down to the President’s responsibility.
“Iisa lang po ang bottom line: Kailangan niyang tuparin ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin; to preserve and defend the Constitution; to do justice to every Filipino,” he said.
“Iyan po ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin. Kaya po malinaw din naman ang kanyang sagot na ginawa niya dito sa pagkakataong ito ang inaakala niyang pinakamabuting paraan nang pagganap niya ng kanyang tungkulin. At kinikilala rin naman ito ng Board of Inquiry, na nagsabing it is the President’s prerogative to directly issue orders to (Special Action Force) Director (Getulio) Napeñas,” he explained.
“Wala pong ganyang intensyon (break the chain of command) dahil sa lahat ng pagkakataon, ang Pangulo po natin ay sinusuri ang kongkretong batayan sa Konstitusyon at sa batas sa lahat ng kanyang pagkilos,” he said.
Secretary Coloma noted that whether the President is Commander-in-Chief or Chief Executive of the PNP, the principle is the same and it all comes down to the President’s responsibility.
“Iisa lang po ang bottom line: Kailangan niyang tuparin ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin; to preserve and defend the Constitution; to do justice to every Filipino,” he said.
“Iyan po ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin. Kaya po malinaw din naman ang kanyang sagot na ginawa niya dito sa pagkakataong ito ang inaakala niyang pinakamabuting paraan nang pagganap niya ng kanyang tungkulin. At kinikilala rin naman ito ng Board of Inquiry, na nagsabing it is the President’s prerogative to directly issue orders to (Special Action Force) Director (Getulio) Napeñas,” he explained.
There have been views that President Aquino violated the PNP’s chain of command when he allowed suspended PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima to be involved in the operation to capture suspected terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, and Abdul Bassit Usman.
“Walang pagsira doon sa regulasyon dahil kahit ano namang perspektibo ang ating kuhanin dito, whether it is the Chief Executive or the Commander-in-Chief perspective, iisa lang po ang prinsipyo dito: the President has ultimate responsibility,” said Coloma. (PCOO News Release)
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