MANILA, Philippines – Why did President  Benigno Aquino III speak to then-suspended police chief Alan Purisima, his close friend, on “Oplan Exodus” which resulted in the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos?

Malacañang defended the President’s decision, saying he could well consult anyone he wants.

“Let us remember also that the President is the Chief Executive of the executive branch. The Philippine National Police is with the executive branch,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Wednesday, February 11. 

He added, “So he acts as the chief executive of a civilian agency, like any department, so he has control and supervision over each and every department or agency within the executive branch.”

Lacierda added that the President did not break any law when Aquino met with Purisima in his official residence on the January 25 SAF operation in Mamasapano town, even if the police officer was serving a suspension order over graft charges.

He quoted Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who had said that the meeting was not prohibited, “so long as the act does not involve the performance of official functions pertaining to the post from which the official concerned was suspended from.”

“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,” he said, quoting de Lima.

Lacierda also said Purisima’s presence in meetings on the Mamasapano operation with the President did not break the chain of command in the PNP.

“You must remember that the Philippine National Police under the Constitution is civilian in character, so what you’re saying – what you’re presupposing is that there’s a chain of command that was being observed. But clearly, Leila de Lima already mentioned yesterday that the PNP, being civilian in character, has no such thing,” he said.

“So, again, you’re looking at the concept of a certain construct, a chain of command construct, which does not apply in a civilian organization like the PNP.”

Aquino accepted Purisima’s resignation on February 6, almost two weeks since the Mamasapano clash – after questions were raised on his role in the deadly operation.

‘That is your conclusion’

Asked why Purisima appeared to be the “focal person” in the operation, according to the testimony of relieved SAF chief Getulio Napeñas, Lacierda also said that was not a fact.

“That is your conclusion. Remember, the role that he got, he was no longer in the line of authority. So what he has was actionable intelligence which he had before he was suspended,” he said.

Asked why PNP Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina was not included in the operational meetings, Lacierda said this is “part of the investigation going on.”

On January 25, some 392 SAF commandos entered Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, a known bailiwick of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), to serve arrest warrants to top terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, better known as “Marwan,” and Abdul Basit Usman.

The operation resulted in a bloody clash between the MILF and SAF troopers leading to the death of a total of at least 68 people, including 44 SAF troopers.

The MILF blames this on the failure of the PNP-SAF team to coordinate twith them, as provided for in its agreement with the government on operations in known MILF territories. 

The PNP leadership, however, has scored the MILF for its “overkill” of the police officers. (READ: Espina turns emotional over SAF 44 ‘overkill’)  – Rappler.com