Original Purisima-Aquino text messages irretrievable

MANILA, Philippines — A leading telecom company cannot submit the contents of the text exchange between President Benigno Aquino III and former police Director General Alan Purisima to the Senate.

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said Friday the telecommunications company's system does not keep monitor or record text messages of its subscribers.

"Smart Telecom has formally replied to the committee that its system is not capable of tracking the contents of SMS but only the log of the time and numbers and that require either a court order or written consent from the subscriber for it to comply," Poe said in text message, as cited in a state news report.

Last week, Senate President Franklin Drilon signed a subpoena ordering the company to provide a copy of the messages to the the Senate panel investigating the police Special Action Force's clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

Drilon said the conversation between Aquino and Purisima, who was then already suspended from his post, will "verify the correctness" of Purisima's document submitted to the panel last month.

TRANSCRIPT: Text messages of Aquino, Purisima on Oplan Exodus

Purisima informed Aquino on the day of the clash of the police operation targeting an international terrorist hiding in Mamasapano. Observers noted that Aquino was allegedly misled on certain details of the dangerous mission.

Poe said, meanwhile, that the committee will release the report on the probe in the third week of March.

"Perhaps, the week of the 16th we can give the committee report," she said.

Poe also vowed that the report will be objective

The Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry looking into the incident that resulted in the deaths of 44 elite police commandos is also expected to release its report on Monday.