THE leader of the independent minority bloc in the House of Representatives challenged President Benigno Aquino III Thursday to set an example for his much touted “straight path” in governance by admitting accountability and ending his blame game over the Jan. 25 Mamasapano bloodbath.
Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed disappointment over what he said was the President’s continued attempts to wash his hands of responsibility in the Mamasapano operation in which 44 police commandos were killed.
“They should stop the script because that is not the straight path and the people are very tired of it,” Romualdez said.
“Still, the President evades accountability when he stops short of saying sorry by appealing for public understanding. I am not surprised. It’s the same speech to excuse himself and his men from the responsibility over the Mamasapano debacle,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez said there was no way out for the President but to apologize and be humble enough to admit his lapses.
“As I said before, it’s not late to say sorry,” Romualdez said.
“The President should also understand the ill-feelings of the grieving widows and loved ones of SAF 44 who are still seeking justice,” he added.
Romualdez slammed the President for maintaining so many strategists to keep him out of trouble when his term ends.
“The Palace has so many spin masters, and they mastered evading accountability to save the President from a deeper hole and spare him from legal problems after his term,” Romualdez said.
The President’s allies in Congress, however, said the President had done enough to own responsibility for the Mamaspano operation.
“I am satisfied with his explanation. It is time to move on,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. told the Manila Standard in a text message.
Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal said it was unnecessary for the President to apologize.
His declaration that his speech Thursday would be the last time he would speak on the issue was a signal to everybody to move on and work towards serving justice to the victims and to make the peace process work, Banal added.
Senator Grace Poe, who prepared the Senate report that the President attacked, said Aquino’s speech Thursday as a step in the right direction.
“The President’s appeal for understanding coupled by his affirmation that the whole incident rests on his shoulder as President is a welcome development to start the healing process particularly among the bereaved families of the fallen SAF,” she said.
Senator Francis Escudero, an administration ally, said the President had said enough.
“I hope the public will accept the President’s owning responsibility and showing of humility. It is now in the hands of the Justice Department and the Ombudsman to file charges against those responsible,” Escudero said.
But another administration ally, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, disputed the President’s statement that the Senate report was based on speculation, and was in fact based on the testimony and documents submitted to the investigating panel.
“That allegation of speculation is speculation,” Cayetano said. “I think the President is not the best person to criticize the police board of inquiry and the Senate reports precisely because we were not empowered. The BOI was not empowered to do an exhaustive report, but was honest enough to do that by giving the limitations,” said Cayetano.
Cayetano added that the Senate panel was held back by claims by some top officials of national security concerns.
He added that the President’s appeal for understanding would have no effect until he gave justice to the families of the 44 slain police commandos.
Opposition Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the President’s speech was too little too late.
“The public and SAF families do not want excuses. They need to know the whole truth or the part they played in Oplan Exodus,” Marcos said, referring to the President and his men.
Senator JV Ejercito, also of the opposition, said he could not understand why the President would not apologize.
“Filipinos are generally very forgiving and understanding. His pride is unbelievable,” Ejercito said.
The left-wing youth group Anakbayan said the President’s speech was another insult to the Filipino people and accused the President of lying to protect himself and to cover up the role that the US played in the Mamasapano operation. – With Macon Ramos-Araneta