FINAL REPORT - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

MR. BALUTAN. …what I mean is that maybe or perhaps his
insinuation that we support the administration is that we
slacken security.
THE CHAIRMAN. What were the exact words that he used?
MR. BALUTAN. To loosen security so that – because during that time,
the security of the marine battalion under my command was
very strict. Only those persons inside the canvassing area
were authorized, the representative…
THE CHAIRMAN. Meaning, your task was to protect the integrity of
the process.
MR. BALUTAN. Correct, Your Honor, Mr. Chairman.
THE CHAIRMAN. By preventing any incursion by any unauthorized
people into the proceedings.
MR. BALUTAN. Yes, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRMAN. Yes. And you were strict.
MR. BALUTAN. Very strict, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN. And is this the one you are referring to as
Colonel…
MR. BALUTAN. Colonel Pirino, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN. …Pirino when he asked you – what were the exact
words he used?
MR. BALUTAN. During the informal conference in the headquarters joint
task force Lanao, 1 st Marine Brigade, he told us to support the
administration, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN. Support the administration. You had mentioned
about slackening. What do you mean by that?
MR. BALUTAN. Maybe that’s the only thing that we can do because
we don’t have access or, what do you call this, kung papaano
ginagawa ‘yong sa itaas, sir separate lang sa amin.
THE CHAIRMAN. Okay. Now, in your understanding because, you
know, there is a superior giving you – issuing you an order to
do something like slackening. You used the word
“slackening,” no. In your mind, how did that instruction to
you by your superior interpreted by you?
92