PNP rebuts BOI on Aquino’s violation of chain of command

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police practically rebuffed its Board of Inquiry on its finding that President Aquino violated the PNP chain of command in the planning and execution of ‘‘Oplan Exodus’’.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. told reporters during a press conference in Camp Crame on Monday that the PNP leadership does not see anything wrong with the President dealing with relieved PNP Special Action Force commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas on the Mamasapano operation.

Like Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Cerbo defended Aquino, stressing that the President is exempted from the law enforcement organization’s chain of command.

He said Aquino, as chief executive of the Philippines, only exercised his prerogative to talk directly to Napeñas.

“Walang nilabag na utos dito. Again, kung irerelate sa pang-araw-araw na gawain ng PNP, all commanders siguro will agree with me (No rule was violated here. Related to daily tasks at PNP, I’m sure all [PNP] commanders will agree with me),” Cerbo said.

He said it was clear that the President was not included in the PNP Fundamental Doctrine Manual on its guidelines on chain of command.

The BOI report said “there was no showing that the President utilized the established chain of command through OIC-CPNP Espina.”

Instead of coordinating with PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Aquino dealt with Napeñas and his close friend and resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, who was ordered suspended over corruption allegations.

Espina and Roxas were only informed about the operation when the SAF troopers reached the target area, the hiding place of wanted Malaysian terrorist Zulkifri bin Hir alias Marwan.

Cerbo argued that the chain of command starts only “from the level of the chief PNP down the line.”

“The President knows about Oplan Exodus. So tinatanong ninyo ang side ng PNP tungkol dito. Anong mali rito? Ito ba ay utos para mag-violate ng batas, magnakaw, pumatay ng inosenteng tao? ‘Di naman di ba? This Oplan Exodus is a legitimate operation so kung titignan from that strategic view, based na rin sa sinabi ng BOI, ang PNP walang nakikitang mali dito,” he said.

(The President knows about Oplan Exodus. So you’re asking what’s PNP’s side. What’s wrong here? Is this an order to violate the law, steal, kill innocent people? It’s not, right? Oplan Exodus was a legitimate operation so if you see it from that strategic view, and based on what the BOI report said, PNP does not see anything wrong here.)

He maintained that the PNP will always stand by “what is right.”

“It does not follow that every word, every provision ay reflective sa stand at sentiment ng buong PNP. Let’s disassociate the BOI with PNP,” he said.

But Cerbo also noted that Purisima had a glaring violation as stated in the BOI for exercising power over Napeñas despite being preventively suspended.

The 128-page report will only serve as a “reference material’’ for the PNP for them to act on the issues and concerns within their mandate.

“The BOI is a creation of the PNP. We gave them independence, meaning they did the investigation outside the influence and interference of the PNP. But do we have to support it 100 percent? I think we cannot,” he added.