Magalong rejects insinuations of ill motives in coming out with testimonies
By Rica Arevalo
Published Oct 3, 2019 07:45 pm
By Hannah Torregoza
Former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Benjamin Magalong on Thursday rejected insinuations he has any ill-motive in coming out with the information against the Chief of Philippine National Police (PNP).
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
At the continuation of the Senate’s hearing into the issue of police officials involved in the “agaw-bato” scheme, the incumbent Baguio City Mayor disputed intimations that he was acting out of resentment against PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde because he never had the chance of having the top PNP post.
“Tinatanong sa akin: Why now, ano ba motibo ni Magalong? Siguro naiinggit si Magalong dahil hindi siya nagging Chief PNP. But Gen. Albayalde, when I investigated the Mamasapano incident, ginive up ko na yung aking career and ambition. So that I will not compromise the truth,” Magalong said during the hearing.
It was Magalong who affirmed then President Benigno Aquino III’s liability for the deaths of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) who were tapped to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias “Marwan” in Mamasapano in Maguindanao in 2015.
This cost Magalong, who was then potential PNP chief, to be bypassed for the position.
Magalong said that while he understands that Albayalde may have been left in the dark about his subordinates’ illicit activities, he could have been diligent enough to conduct further investigation having had adequate knowledge of crime scene investigation.
“He could have asked the officers, where were the chemists? Why were there no pictures? Where is the inventory?” he pointed out, stating that the 2013 buy-bust operation was a huge operation.
“You might say, why only now? Well, I can say that life is a matter of choices. During that particular incident, you have choices. Ano choice mo dun? To do what is right. Nung nakikita mo sana, may naaamoy ka na na may nangyayari dito, you should have done something that is right. Or you did not do anything at all. Yan ang choice mo or probably other more choices,” Magalong said.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, confirmed Magalong’s statement saying he too believes the latter had no underlying motive to implicate the PNP Chief in the case.
According to Lacson, Magalong sought his help when he was conducting an investigation of the Mamasapano incident and was in a quandary as to whether he will absolve then President Aquino and his boss, then PNP Chief Alan Purisima from the case.
But the latter told him he chose “character over career” and faithfully submitted the results of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano incident.
Lacson said he consoled Magalong with his decision saying “your career ends when you retire, but your character lives even though you are already dead.”
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
At the continuation of the Senate’s hearing into the issue of police officials involved in the “agaw-bato” scheme, the incumbent Baguio City Mayor disputed intimations that he was acting out of resentment against PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde because he never had the chance of having the top PNP post.
“Tinatanong sa akin: Why now, ano ba motibo ni Magalong? Siguro naiinggit si Magalong dahil hindi siya nagging Chief PNP. But Gen. Albayalde, when I investigated the Mamasapano incident, ginive up ko na yung aking career and ambition. So that I will not compromise the truth,” Magalong said during the hearing.
It was Magalong who affirmed then President Benigno Aquino III’s liability for the deaths of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) who were tapped to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias “Marwan” in Mamasapano in Maguindanao in 2015.
This cost Magalong, who was then potential PNP chief, to be bypassed for the position.
Magalong said that while he understands that Albayalde may have been left in the dark about his subordinates’ illicit activities, he could have been diligent enough to conduct further investigation having had adequate knowledge of crime scene investigation.
“He could have asked the officers, where were the chemists? Why were there no pictures? Where is the inventory?” he pointed out, stating that the 2013 buy-bust operation was a huge operation.
“You might say, why only now? Well, I can say that life is a matter of choices. During that particular incident, you have choices. Ano choice mo dun? To do what is right. Nung nakikita mo sana, may naaamoy ka na na may nangyayari dito, you should have done something that is right. Or you did not do anything at all. Yan ang choice mo or probably other more choices,” Magalong said.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, confirmed Magalong’s statement saying he too believes the latter had no underlying motive to implicate the PNP Chief in the case.
According to Lacson, Magalong sought his help when he was conducting an investigation of the Mamasapano incident and was in a quandary as to whether he will absolve then President Aquino and his boss, then PNP Chief Alan Purisima from the case.
But the latter told him he chose “character over career” and faithfully submitted the results of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano incident.
Lacson said he consoled Magalong with his decision saying “your career ends when you retire, but your character lives even though you are already dead.”