PNP spokesman: Nothing wrong with US help

From GMA News (Feb 17): PNP spokesman: Nothing wrong with US help

The spokesperson for the Philippine National Police on Tuesday said he sees nothing wrong with the United States' supposed assistance in extricating the injured police commandos following the January 25 clash with Moro guerillas in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

At a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said US assistance to local security forces should not be questioned.

“The US has been our partners in policy [and] law enforcement,” he said. “'Di ko nakikita yung dahilan para itago.”

He, however, stressed that there is still no confirmation whether US forces indeed had a role in the deadly clash, which left 44 PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) troopers and 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members dead.

“Tulad ng paulit-ulit na sabi, tignan natin kung 'yan ay tatalakayin o ma-touch ng BOI,” he said, referring to the Board of Inquiry currently investigating the clash. “Hintayin natin, 'di naman proper na magbigay ng initial updates kung 'di pa kumpleto ginagawa ng BOI.”

He said the MILF, the SAF, and the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division have not indicated any involvement of US troops during the Senate and House hearings on the deadly clash.

“'Yung pagtulong [ng US], statement 'yan ni [relieved SAF chief Director Getulio] Napeñas, subject 'yan ng investigation ng House, Senate at ng ginagawa namin sa BOI," he said. "Hintayin natin 'yung resulta."

Last week, Napeñas admitted before senators that he sought the help of US forces in the Mamasapano clash but only in extricating the injured policemen from the area of encounter.

"Nung bandang tanghali na nakatanggap na kami ng reports na may mga sugatan na, I took the initiative na humingi ng tulong sa US fores to provide us medical evacuation,” he told the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

The US assistance was not sought in the actual operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, he stressed.

He said his asking for assistance was in connection with the ongoing exercises with the US forces based on the fight against terrorism. He said the US troops were just in Zamboanga that time.

Philippine law prohibits the participation of foreign soldiers in actual combat in the country.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/438896/news/nation/pnp-spokesman-nothing-wrong-with-us-help