Purisima snubs PNP probe board

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Inquiry (BOI) investigating the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident wants three more days to release its findings as it charts its next move after failing to interview resigned police chief Alan Purisima.

It was the third time the police BOI had asked for an extension of the deadline for submitting its report on the Jan. 25 carnage.

The BOI had originally intended to release its findings on Feb. 26 but later moved the date to March 6.

“We are just hoping to interview some key players. We are hoping that they be subjected to follow up interview but for some reason, they begged off,” said BOI head Director Benjamin Magalong.

“We’re supposed to conduct forensics (on their) cellphones so that we can acquire their contents, particularly the exchange of messages,” he pointed out.

Magalong said they have also relayed to Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II their intention to interview President Aquino.

“We have not received feedback from his office. We have already expressed our intention but it’s the prerogative of the President,” he said.

“We need three more days. We believe there will be a lot speculations and insinuations with this extension but we are giving you the assurance that the extension is to ensure the quality will not be sacrificed,” Magalong said.

“We will not sacrifice our credibility and integrity,” Magalong said.

“The credibility of the Philippine National Police is at stake here, so we can’t mess this up,” he said.

“We’re nearing retirement, we can’t let this tarnish our image,” he added.

“The three-day extension will allow us to analyze more pieces of evidence that are already with us. We make sure we will have our conclusions that are based on facts and heavily supported by evidence,” he explained.

He pointed out that the BOI’s task is “purely fact-finding and not prosecutorial.”

Magalong presented to the media yesterday a big travel bag and two smaller ones as well as a huge black box containing documents relevant to the BOI investigation.

Magalong said the BOI report would also include findings on the extent of the involvement of American personnel in the operation to arrest international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and local counterpart Basit Usman.

“We will discuss the involvement of the American in the SAF operation,” Magalong said without giving details.

Initial reports indicated that Purisima was in full control of the operation even while under suspension, with relieved SAF chief Getulio Napeñas reporting directly to him. Purisima is serving a six-month suspension for a plunder complaint.

Magalong, who also heads the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), noted that BOI members were investigating the carnage round-the-clock.

On Thursday, Magalong said copies of the BOI report would be given to the Senate, House of Representatives, Department of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Human Rights and to the families of the victims.

Purisima’s lawyer said the former PNP chief had been very cooperative with the BOI.

“Purisima has been cooperating with the investigations being conducted by the Senate and by the PNP Board of Inquiry,” lawyer Kristoffer James Purisima said in a text message.

The lawyer said the former police chief submitted an affidavit to the BOI last Feb. 19 containing pertinent information, including relevant text exchanges with the President and fellow police officers.

The BOI is investigating the deadly Special Action Force (SAF) operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that saw 44 of the commandos killed at the hands of guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Nothing wrong

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, meanwhile, said she sees nothing wrong with the delay in the completion of the BOI probe, citing the complexity of the case.

“It’s just natural for investigating bodies not to meet deadlines. That is actually better than to insist on meeting the deadline and come up with a half-baked report. That also happened to us several times where the teams asked for extensions,” she explained.

But she emphasized the DOJ team would try its best to complete its own probe and come up with recommendations on April 2.

De Lima said she is joining DOJ investigators today in Mamasapano to meet with MILF leaders and possibly inspect the clash site.

Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Paulo Navera leads the DOJ probe team.

“The MILF leadership has responded and agreed to have a dialogue with us,” she told reporters.

The DOJ chief said she would take the opportunity to personally ask for a copy of the report of the MILF body investigating the tragedy.

“I am going to personally relate to them our intention, what we are doing. I would appeal anew for their cooperation, especially they are claiming that there were also casualties from their end. We need more particulars,” she said.

The MILF said last week it would only provide the DOJ with an executive summary of its report.

“I want to know what their plans are and why only executive report,” she said.

She reiterated that the cooperation of the MILF leadership would be necessary, especially since the rebel group is also seeking justice for 18 fighters and five civilians killed during the encounter.

The DOJ team would also conduct an ocular inspection of the clash site tomorrow after getting clearance from the military.

De Lima and her team went to Mamasapano two weeks ago to conduct an ocular inspection, but were stopped by the military due to heavy fighting between government forces and the BIFF.

But her team was reportedly able to secure “very vital” witnesses who reportedly could identify the MILF fighters responsible for the killing of the SAF commandos. – Christina Mendez, Edith Regalado, Paolo Romero, Edu Punay, Roel Pareño, Jess Diaz