Trillanes misinformed on ‘drinking session’ –Magalong

A ranking police official on Tuesday said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV may have been “misinformed” when he alleged that an unidentified Special Action Force officer went drinking with Army commanders on the night before the January 25 mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

In a text message to GMA News Online, Director Benjamin Magalong, who chaired the police Board of Inquiry that looked into the Mamasapano incident, categorically denied Trillanes’ allegation.

“We have already investigated that allegation,” he said. “There is no truth to it.”

Forty-four SAF troopers were killed when the mission to arrest three suspected terrorists in a remote village in Mamasapano resulted in a clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with which the government has an existing peace agreement, and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Figthers.

Fellowship

Magalong, who also heads the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), admitted that there was indeed a “fellowship” on the eve of the mission but quickly added that SAF troopers were not part of it.

He, however, has yet to respond to further inquiries regarding the fellowship.

The PNP has earlier vowed to cooperate with any external investigation on the alleged drinking session.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the PNP will not investigate the supposed drinking session as it would be too “self-serving” for them.

“More wise kung may body outside the PNP ang magsasagawa ng investigation,” he said. —KBK, GMA News