Palace to CBCP head: PNoy claimed responsibility for Mamasapano tragedy

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Monday responded to the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) who urged President Aquino to explain his role in the Mamasapano incident.

In a statement sent to Palace reporters, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino already accepted responsibility for the deaths of the 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).

"Sa kanyang talumpati noong Pebrero 6, ipinahayag na ng Pangulo na bilang Ama ng Bayan at Commander-in-Chief, pasan niya ang responsibilidad para sa lahat ng nangyari na misyong ikinasawi ng SAF 44. Mahalaga sa pagtamo ng katarungan para sa kanila ang pagbatid sa buong katotohanan," Coloma said.

He added that the ongoing investigations by the PNP Board of Inquiry, the House of Representatives and the Senate are important processes in the search for the truth behind the Mamasapano tragedy.

CBCP President and Lingayen Archbishop Socrates Villegas on Sunday said that Aquino and his advisers must give "a full and satisfactory accounting of their actions in respect to this tragic loss."

Villegas said the slain SAF troopers did not go after Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, if there was no order from the higher ranks.

"Policemen do not order themselves, not even members of the Special Action Force. Indeed, that is what corroborated statements now clearly establish: The decision was made on the highest levels to go after these 'high value targets,'" Villegas said in a statement.

In his first televised address following the Mamasapano incident, Aquino admitted prior knowledge of the operation but denied giving the go-signal for it.

Aquino also criticized the SAF commander for his failure to coordinate properly with the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, whose combatants engaged the SAF troopers in a firefight.

READ: Palace pins blame on Napeñas

In his second national address, Aquino claimed responsibility for the botched police operation.

"As President and Commander-in-Chief, I am fully responsible for any result—any triumph, any suffering, and any tragedy—that may result from our desire for lasting peace and security," Aquino said.

Malacañang said last week that the President has stated everything that he needs to share with the public regarding the Mamasapano incident.

Cover-up, Purisima

The Palace had also denied hiding information from the public amid the various government probes on the fatal police operation.

READ: Palace: No cover-up on Mamasapano incident

Villegas of the CBCP warned those invited to the government probes against a possible cover-up to protect higher officials.

"The concealment of truth or the foisting of deliberate falsehood even to shield one's superiors from embarrassment or to spare them indictment is always a moral wrong, especially in the context of legal processes and under oath," Villegas said.

The CBCP head also slammed resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima for allegedly participating in the operation despite his suspension over corruption allegations.

"It seems that a suspended police officer played more than a merely advisory role. Why should he have been giving orders? And if he was in fact issuing orders and commands, should it not be clear that his authority to do so, precisely because he was laboring under a legitimate order of suspension, emanated from higher levels?" Villegas said.