Despite
the bloodbath, Duterte said the government and the MILF must continue with the
peace process.
TARMAC OF FALLEN COPS — Row after row, like
the headstones that which Allen Tate described in his poem, the coffins bearing
44 police combatants are placed on the tarmac of Villamor Airbase yesterday,
upon arrival from Mindanao where they met their death with ‘strict impunity,’
too, perhaps? (Ali Vicoy)
“It
might not sound good to everybody but we have no choice. We cannot go back to
war,” Duterte said.
STOP
‘FINGER-POINTING’ – FVR
As
this developed, former President Fidel V. Ramos called for an end to
“finger-pointing” until investigators have finished their probe into the
“slaughter” of several elite policemen in Maguindanao.
Ramos,
founding general of the SAF as chief of the then Philippine Constabulary in
1983, said it was time to focus on pursuing truth and justice for the deaths of
the 44 policemen while not abandoning the peace process in Mindanao.
The
former leader made the appeal after listening to President Aquino’s speech on
the Maguindanao incident last Wednesday when he put the blame on poor
coordination between the police and military for the bloody clash with the MILF
fighters in Maguindanao last weekend. Aquino had criticized sacked SAF
commander Getulio Napeñas for failing to comply with his directive
for sufficient coordination with the military before pursuing the suspected
terror lair in Maguindanao.
RECKLESS
ADVENTURE
Duterte,
meanwhile, said the operation conducted by the SAF was a reckless adventure. He
said the operation that was supposed to effect the arrest of bombers long
wanted by authorities here and the United States was either poorly planned or
was not planned at all.
Talking
to reporters Wednesday evening at the Royal Mandaya Hotel here, Duterte also
expressed sadness and anger over that bloody encounter.
“I
am very sad and at the same time angry,” Duterte said, saying the operation and
the situation on that fateful day was handled poorly.
“I
condemned the killing and the brutality that went with it. Pwede ka namang
mamatay sa isang bala lang (One can be killed by a single bullet). It’s really
painful,” he added.
Remains of 42 PNP Special Action Forces who
died in Mamasapano arrived in Villamor airbase in Pasay City are will be
brought to Camp Bagong Diwa for necrological (photo by ali
vicoy)mbnewspictures/mbnewspix
Duterte
also emphasized the importance of the existing peace agreement between the
government and the MILF which could have been used as basis for communication
before the operation was launched.
“LET’S
HONOR THE AGREEMENT,” HE SAID.
Asked
who should be blamed for the incident, Duterte said there is an ongoing
investigation and that the right to be heard is very important.
“Though
the act was condemnable, it does not mean also that the blame would all be
pointed to the other side (MILF). You have to ask the question why it
happened,” Duterte stressed.
AQUINO
AWARE OF OPERATION?
Duterte
also expressed belief that President Aquino was aware of the operation and the
handling of it by suspended Police Director General Alan Purisima.
“Alam
n’ya (He knew),” Duterte said of President Aquino, adding that he listened to
the speech of the President on Wednesday evening prior to the interview with
the media here.
“I’m
glad he made that speech even if overdue but hopefully there was not much finger-pointing
because we still know the entire truth,” Ramos said in a media interview at the
inauguration of a car manufacturing plant in Laguna.
Ramos
still felt that Aquino should have delivered his speech on the bloodshed in
Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Monday morning immediately learning about the
bloodshed.
Duterte
said Purisima should be called to testify during the investigations and that
his side should also be heard.
He
did not elaborate on the possible effects of the incident to the fate of the
Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that is being heard and deliberated on in congress.
“We
need time,” Duterte pointed out, adding that the government and the MILF must
continue talking and go on with the peace process.
Ramos,
though distraught by the death of the SAF troops, asserted that the peace
process in Mindanao should not be a causality along with the fallen heroes.
“Ang
trabaho natin ngayon is to pursue the killers, bring them to justice but the
peace process must not be a casualty like the 44 who died,” said Ramos before
leaving for Villamor Air Base for the arrival honors for the slain cops.
“If
we take out the peace process are we ready for a war?” Duterte asked.
He
emphasized that there has to be a resumption of the talks.
Duterte
also signified his willingness to talk to the other side (MILF) but not now,
adding that he still feels sad over the incident.
“I’m
not in the mood for talking,” he frankly told reporters.
The
mayor also called on the people of Mindanao to be vigilant at all times.
“Let
us grieve and I share the grief of every parent of those killed,” Duterte said.
MASS
LEAVE?
In
Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. reminded men and women of the PNP of their primary mandate
of protecting the people following reports some police personnel may go on mass
leave following the death of 44 SAF commandos.
“We
are hoping that they will use reason to reflect and understand their importance
in serving the country,” Coloma said.
The
alumni association of the PNP Academy said it would urge the 4,000-strong
active PNP personnel to go on a five-day mass leave if there will be no justice
on the death of 44 SAF members. (With a report from Madel Sabater Namit)
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