MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III did not scold the officials and troopers of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) during their three-hour meeting on Wednesday, Malacañang said.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. dismissed as "baseless" and "speculative" reports that Aquino scolded the SAF officials and troopers over the deadly Mamasapano mission.
Coloma said it is not in the nature of the President to make such action.
"Para po sa mga nakakakilala sa karakter at pagkatao ng ating Pangulo, kilala naman po natin na siya ay isang malumanay na tao. He is not given to any type of emotional outburst," Coloma said.
"Ni pagtataas boses o pagpapahayag ng emosyon, wala naman sigurong nakakapansin o makakapgsasabi na yan ay bahagi ng kanyang kinaugalian," he added.
Coloma reiterated that Aquino's meeting with the elite cops yesterday focused on a review of the operations conducted to arrest international terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January.
He said the three-hour meeting became an open forum where there was an exchange of observations and suggestions among the SAF officials.
Noy's cancelled speech
Coloma also denied that Aquino's meeting and attendance at the turnover of SAF command ceremony at Camp Bagong Diwa were unscheduled since the President had been expecting to have a bull session with the police officials.
When asked why Aquino's scheduled speech at the turnover ceremony was cancelled, Coloma said the SAF meeting was more important for the President.
He also dismissed as "purely speculative" reports that Aquino refused to deliver a speech because his recent remarks were not well received.
"There is no cogent reason for reading more into what happened," Coloma said, adding that Aquino's scheduled activities are always subject to change.
The Philstar
