Binay mum on BOI findings

SILANG, CAVITE—Vice President Jejomar Binay opted to stay mum on the findings of the Philippine National Police’s board of inquiry (BOI) on the Mamasapano operation that found President Benigno Aquino III, resigned PNP Chief Alan Purisima and relieved Special Action Force commander Director Getulio Napeñas to have violated the chain of command.

Asked to comment on President Aquino’s accountability, Binay said he had not read the BOI findings yet.

“Tingnan muna natin ano’ng naging basehan (We will see first what is the basis),” he told reporters here after delivering a speech during the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) homecoming, where he was the guest speaker.

In his speech as the guest of honor, Binay recognized the valor of the fallen 44 SAF commandos, whose “memories deserve to be remembered by generations (and) their death cries for justice.”

But “I think that we do not need any document (BOI report) to say that the 44 gallant men of the SAF and their 15 wounded comrades had the greatest love for their brothers in their units and the nation,” he said.

Binay, instead, vowed to push for higher salaries and benefits, scholarship programs for the families and children, and decent housing for all PNP members, in return for their services and sacrifices.

The annual homecoming, which happened a week before the PNPA graduation and held at the academy’s ground, was dedicated to the fallen police commandos.

Some members of the PNP alumni wore black armbands, while each PNP alumni class carried a photo of each of the SAF 44 during the traditional parade on the academy’s grounds.

Of the 44 fallen SAF members, who joined the mission to capture terrorists Zulkilfi bin Hir and Abdulbasit Usman, three were from the PNPA Class of 2009.

They were Police Senior Inspectors John Garry Erana, Gednat Tabdi, and Max Jim Tria.