Magalong dispels fears of whitewash over deferred release of Mamasapano probe report
Police Director Benjamin Magalong shows to the media the bulk of papers the PNP Board of Inquiry has gathered and examined in the month-long investigation on the Mamasapano incident that killed 44 policemen. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Justifying the delay in the submission of the Board of Inquiry report on the Mamasapano incident, the investigation body’s head parried away insinuations that the postponement was to suppress the findings of the probe.
Police Director Benjamin Magalong, BOI chairman and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, said Monday that their request for deadline extension was for them to come up with a “quality and objective report.”
“Kapag winalanghiya namin ‘yung aming investigation, hindi lang kami ang masisira but the entire PNP (Philippine National Police). The PNP is at stake here,” Magalong said in a hastily called press briefing.
“We can’t afford to leave that bad legacy. Malapit na kaming mag-retire. Malapit na kaming umalis sa service. Hindi namin dudungisan ang ating [pulisya].”
From the original deadline, a “self-imposed target date” of the PNP, on March 6, Magalong sought an extension from PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.
Magalong vowed to submit the report to Espina on Thursday, March 12.
What caused the delay?
Spending sleepless nights for months to sift through voluminous documents made it difficult for the BOI to beat its deadline, according to Magalong.
When asked to describe the bulk of papers the BOI has to examine, Magalong brought out three suitcases, including a trolley suitcase, and a plastic storage box full of documents.
Also, he said the BOI’s operational audit team only submitted a report to them on the day the final copy should be given to Espina and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on March 6.
“They were supposed to submit to us the report last February 27 but because of the bulk of documents that need to be reviewed, they were able to submit it on March 6,” he said.
Aware that critics might interpret the extension as a way to whitewash the investigation, the CIDG chief assured that the sole reason for delay was that the PNP could not afford to sacrifice the quality of the report.
“We will not sacrifice the integrity, not only the members of the BOI, but the PNP,” he reiterated.
He defended the OAT members, saying these are officers with “good service reputation, credibility and objectivity.”
The OAT painstakingly did the interview with all witnesses in the Mamasapano clash.
Asked if the BOI will identify the persons liable in the Mamasapano incident, he said the BOI “will release everything.”
“But we have to make sure first that our conclusions will be based on facts and heavily supported by evidence,” he said.
The three-day extension, according to Magalong, will be spent on analyzing sworn statements and transcript of interviews from persons involved in the incident, report and findings of the OAT, among others.
But Magalong clarified that the BOI has no power to recommend criminal and administrative liabilities to persons at fault.
“We are purely a fact-finding body, not prosecutorial. I clarified that with the OIC,” he said.
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