Magalong: Purisima, Catapang, MILF chiefs refuse BOI interview

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 – One of the challenges the Board of Inquiry (BOI) encountered as it sorted out the events leading to the Mamasapano debacle was the refusal of some key persons to be interviewed and to turn over their mobile phones for investigation.

These personalities included Director General Alan Purisima, Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. and the commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said BOI chairman Police Director Benjamin Magalong on Monday.

Although they have submitted their affidavits to the BOI, Magalong said their findings could have been more substantial had Catapang, Purisima and the MILF commanders allowed the BOI to interview them.

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“Of course there were limitations during the investigation. We were hoping they would allow themselves to be subjected for follow-up interview but for some reason, they begged off,” Magalong said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

“We are not like the courts. We can’t compel them [to speak],” he said.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief said one of the main objectives of the probe was to pinpoint the individuals who were liable for the grim outcome of the operation.

The “Operation Exodus” targeting international terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao led to the killing of 44 Special Action Force commandos, 18 MILF members and five civilians.

Mobile phones 

Not only they refused to be interviewed but Catapang, Purisima and the MILF leaders also turned down the BOI’s request to give their mobile phones for investigation.

“We asked for their cellphones but they also begged off. They said they cannot submit the units for personal reasons,” Magalong said.

He said retrieving messages from a cellphone could only take an hour.

“Hindi tulad [nina] Napeñas (Police Director Getulio Napeñas) at SAF officers, talagang binigay nila sa amin ‘yung laman ng kanilang phone at talagang nalaman namin lahat,” he added.

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But Purisima’s lawyer Kristoffer James Purisima said his client had sent the BOI “relevant SMS (short messaging service) exchanges last February 19.”

This was confirmed by Magalong.

Purisima said the same document was also submitted to the Senate and “have been in fact read into the record under oath.”