De Lima: ‘No legal transgression’ in alleged US hand in Mamasapano operation

General

Apr 102015

The alleged involvement of the US government in the Jan. 25 operation of the Special Action Force (SAF) to arrest an international terrorist did not go beyond the parameters set under the 1987 Constitution.

“Under our constitution, the parameters are the following: establishment of military bases without concurrence of the Senate is not allowed, there is also a ban on the presence of nukes within Philippine soil and also there is the general principle of non-intervention in the affairs of the State as a sovereign State,” de Lima told reporters Friday.

De Lima noted that according to the police and the military, the US involvement has been limited to intelligence sharing and medical help.

READ: Napeñas admits US hand in intelligence sharing during Mamasapano operation

“I do not see any constitutional or legal transgression from the established facts…and even if there is information that there was presence of several personnel in the commend post, per se I don’t see any transgression,” de Lima said.

“We are all engaged in the global war against terrorism and therefore the cooperation between and among sovereign States is key, very crucial in terms of combating terrorism,” she added.

READ: De Lima defends Aquino anew, says he is ‘over and beyond’ any chain of command

De Lima said that the Philippines especially needs all the help in neutralizing terrorism.

“Now, for as long as the Philippine government retains absolute control as to a specific operation, as to the what, who, when, how in the operations, there is no transgression,” she added. IDL