Tarlac City – “The maverick Mamasapano investigator graces the camp.”
Thus said with the visit of former Philippine National Police Deputy Director Benjamin Magalong of the Tarlac Police Provincial Office (TPPO), May 22.
Magalong attended the TPPO traditional flag raising ceremony and conferred special commendation to 4 chiefs of police (COP) of the province for their recent “exemplary accomplishments.”
The ceremonies hosted by Provincial Director PSSupt Ritchie Medardo Posadas was also graced by former PNP Region 3 Director retired PCSupt Rudy Lacadin.
Conferred with special commendation were PSupt Luis Ventura Jr, Concepcion COP, PSupt Bayani Razalan, this city’s COP, Psupt Ariel Red, Capas COP and PSInsp Jose Natividad Jr., Pura COP.
In his message, Magalong advised the PNP officers to “lead by example and to always instill inspiration to their subordinates”.
“A good and effective (police) leader is one who inspires his men and always give them personal thoughts”, Magalong said.
“The Mamasapano case is one among the very controversial issues I handled. (And) I do not regret having done what was expected of me as a policemen:, also revealed Magalong.
Magalong, who retired last December, belongs to PMA batch 1982, and was the former PNP Police Deputy Director for Operation, the third highest rank official in the PNP hierarchy. He is much senior than PNP Chief PDG Ronald Dela Rosa but retired after 38 years in the service.
Just before his retirement, Magalong hugged the news, when as Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), released his report on the Mamasapano “debacle” where 44 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) members were killed while attempting to arrest the “notorious Malaysian international terrorist and bomb-maker” Zulkifli Abdhir, also known as Marwan, in Barangay Tulanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao last 2015.
Marwan was killed but the fierce battle between government forces and muslim radical groups left more than 100 dead.
In his report, Magalong included then president Benigno Aquino III and former PNP Chief Allan Purisima as among those “who should be made responsible in the death of the 44 SAF members.”
Those in the know claim Magalong should have been promoted as PNP chief if only he did include Aquino and Purisima in his Mamasapano report.
Magalong, also extolled Posadas as “one among my finest policemen and a very promising officer”.
The 57-year old retired police general also revealed, just before leaving police service, he was offered 2 cabinet positions but declined the government posts. He said he is now in the top management of a P30 Billion private company, Asia Steel Corporation.
Ventura received the commendation from Magalong, Lacadin, and Posadas for his successful entrapment of 2 Concepcion barangay kagawads who were separately arrested selling shabu. Those arrested by Ventura’s team were Barangay Kagawad Daniel Quilala of Barangay Alfonso and Barangay Kagawad Noel Sanches of Brgy Sta. Rita both from Concepcion town.
For his part, Posadas said, “the visit of General Magalong, one of the most respected and most competent police officer, inspired us to excel more in our efforts to serve the people. We will always remember him as an officer of principle and a venerable leader”./Nelson Bolos