FORMER President Fidel Ramos scored the government for failing to render swift and final justice for the families and relatives of the 44 Special Action Force personnel who were in the controversial Mamasapano incident last Jan. 25.
Ramos, sporting a SAF cap and black commando t-shirt, said the sacrifices of the 44 SAF commandos has generated enormous public empathy, except the Aquino administration.
“We have taken it upon ourselves to call the attention of the authorities to do something and bring justice to the families of the victims,” said the 87-year-old former leader at the sideline of a fund raising golf tournament for the families of the 44 fallen SAF heroes at Camp Aguinaldo.
Ramos said the Aquino administration’s failure to accord justice for the slain police commandos will only lead to the recurrence of the incident.
“If we do not do this, there will be repetitions of said mistakes by the authorities and the lack of awareness, recognition and even respect for our men and women in uniform who on a daily basis risk their lives,” Ramos said.
Ramos said he was surprised at official actions on the Mamasapano incident after the “DoJ filed cases of homicide, manslaughter, and even murder against 40 suspects” but declined to disclose the names of those involved in the Mamasapano operations.
“I suspect we are being fooled and they are also fooling the victims and families,” Ramos said, adding that such actions bar final closure for the survivors and families involved.
For his part, former Brig. Gen. Emiliano Templo said they organized the golf tournament to raise P5 million to finance the scholarship of most orphans of 44 fallen heroes from grade school to high school level.
“What we are trying to do now is from grade school up to the time they finish high school we will support them with school needs,” Templo said.