De Lima: Don't judge PNoy based on incomplete findings

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday appealed to the public not to cast judgment on President Benigno Aquino III over the Mamasapano clash, especially when probe findings on the matter did not even include his side of the story.

De Lima was refering to the findings of the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry that Aquino had bypassed the chain of command when he dealt directly with sacked police Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas for Oplan Exodus, the mission to neutralize high-value targets in supposed Moro Islamic Liberation Front territory in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Unable to personally speak with Aquino on the clash, the BOI had to rely on the president's pronouncements in the media. The BOI had relayed to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas its intention to interview Aquino, but Roxas apparently forgot to tell the president.

"Kaya nga sinasabi ko hindi dapat kasi hinuhusgahan kaagad ang pangulo dahil siya ang nakakaalam eh. And this president is a very responsible person and you know, he has the interest of our country at heart," said De Lima.

"Unfair iyan na ganyan ang mga panghuhusga sa kanya on the basis of those reports or supposed factual findings na mukhang hindi naman kumpleto dahil nga hindi natanong, hindi naman kinuha ang side ng pangulo," she added.

To avoid coming out with "incomplete findings" similar to that of the Board of Inquiry's, De Lima said the Department of Justice's parallel probe would include an interview of Aquino.

"Hinihintay ko ang recommendation ng team kung kailangan din ba naming kausapin ang pangulo," said De Lima. The DOJ probe is being carried out jointly by the National Bureau of Investigation and the National Prosecution Service.

On Thursday, Aquino summoned Police Director Benjamin Magalong, the chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group who headed the BOI, to the Palace to clarify portions of the police report and finally give his side of the story. De Lima attended the meeting but was tightlipped when asked by reporters on what happened.

"Ang puwede ko lang sabihin, General Magalong asked certain questions and the president responded to them, parang clarificatory," said De Lima, adding that the police official was finally able to ask Aquino questions the BOI previously wanted to ask him during its probe.

Apology up to Aquino

Meanwhile, De Lima said she would be leaving it up to the president to decide whether or not to issue a public apology on Mamasapano incident, as several quarters had demanded.

"It is up to the president to you know, kailangan bang mag-apologize. Siya ang nakakaalam noon eh. Siya ang nakakaalam kung ano ang ginawa niya at ano yung mga hindi niya ginawa," said De Lima.

The BOI had faulted the president, Napeñas, and suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima for keeping to themselves information about Oplan Exodus, and keeping Roxas and Interior Sec. Mar Roxas and PNP OIC chief Leonardo Espina out of the loop.

The PNP is under Roxas' Department of Interior and Local Government.

"As far as he’s concerned, he’s given clear guidance on the need to inform si Roxas and Espina," De Lima however said in defending Aquino.

She said Aquino was under the impression that Roxas and Espina had already been informed about the Mamasapano mission.

Oplan Exodus led to the killing of international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan but also caused the deaths of 44 police commandos in the hands of the MILF and its breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters on Jan. 25. — JDS, GMA News