Acting PNP chief Espina: Police-military relations ‘very vibrant’

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police on Tuesday sought to dispel the notion that the police and military are feuding.

The acting national police chief, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, said relations between the PNP and AFP are “very vibrant and close” amid the finger pointing between the two organizations over the Mamasapano debacle.

Military and police generals have traded blames against each other after sacked Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napenas disputed the claims of the AFP that the PNP failed to give the crucial information that would facilitate the sending of reinforcements.

As many as 44 counterterrorism troopers were killed in the clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in Mamasapano last January 25.

At Senate hearing Tuesday on the bloody encounter, Espina had asked the committee and the public not to misconstrue the misunderstanding between the PNP and the AFP because the two bodies are “very close.”

“Kung saka sakaling may hindi pagkakaintindihan, could it be limited sa nangyari sa sitwasyon? Kasi sa katotohanan, honestly, the relationship of the AFP and PNP is very vibrant and close,” Espina said.

“Baka meron lang hindi pagkakaintindihan on the ground in this case. For the benefit of the public, this (only applies) to this particular case,” he added.

Earlier, Napeñas said they did not inform the AFP so as not to compromise their sensitive mission.

The PNP also partially blamed the AFP for the large number of deaths in their troops after the military failed to send reinforcements on the ground.