Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II gestures in this file photo as Director Benjamin Magalong (background, right) listens with other police officials. EDWIN BACASMAS/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – This time, the chain of command may have failed President Benigno Aquino III.
After the police Board of Inquiry (BOI) came out with its report and said that President Benigno Aquino III “bypassed” the chain of command in regard to the Mamasapano operation, Malacañang complained that the investigators never asked the Chief Executive to give his side.
“The BOI in its efforts could have asked the President to clarify matters. The President would have answered any questions they may have had. But no official request was made,” said presidential spokesperson Lacierda before media on Saturday, March 14.
BACKSTORY: BOI ‘resorted to speculations’–Malacañang
BOI head Director Benjamin Magalong said that Aquino had told him that the Chief Executive was “hurt” by the board’s report.
Aquino purportedly told Magalong his feelings when the President summoned the police officer to Malacañang on Wednesday, March 18, “to clarify some issues which were not included in the (BOI) conclusion.”
BACKSTORY: Palace summons PNP board of inquiry chief; Aquino hurt by report
But according to Magalong, the board did seek an interview with the President and coursed it through Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, in apparent compliance with the principle of chain of command.
Roxas, as head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, has direct supervision of the Philippine National Police and is the superior of Magalong after acting-PNP chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.
“Secretary Roxas said he will relay our request to the President,” Magalong told media during a press conference in Camp Crame on March 9, 2015.
BACKSTORY: BOI fails to get statement from Aquino on Mamasapano
However, the BOI head added, “After that, we haven’t received any response from them… We haven’t’ received feedback as of the moment.”
On Wednesday, Magalong told media that Roxas had admitted that he “forgot” to tell the President about the BOI’s request for an interview.
“Inamin ni secretary (Roxas) na sa dami ng trabaho ay parang nakalimutan na mabanggit sa Presidente,” (The secretary admitted that because of much work he forgot to mention it to the President) Magalong said, following the meeting with Aquino which was also attended by the DILG head.
Also present at the meeting were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, PNP Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and fellow BOI member, Chief Supt. John Sosito.
‘Innuendos and speculations’
The failure of Roxas to relay the BOI’s request to the President led the board to rely on media reports on statements given by Aquino in regard to the incident, where 44 policemen, 18 Muslim rebels and five civilians were killed.
Malacañang said the report “introduced innuendos and resorted to speculations to reach some of its conclusions” in relation to the President’s role in the Mamasapano operation.
As of post time, Inquirer.net was still trying to get Roxas to comment on Magalong’s revelation.