MANILA, Philippines–It’s President Benigno
Aquino III–not the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)–who should be held
responsible for the deaths of 44 police commandos in a clash in Maguindanao
last week, a party-list group said Saturday.
The militant Anakpawis group said it was the President’s
actions that led to the tragic end of the Special Action Force (SAF) men, who
entered MILF territory in a clandestine operation to arrest two international
terrorists.
Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap, in a statement, said Aquino
deliberately held back details about the operation in a televised address last
week, including the role of suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief
Alan Purisima and United States military forces.
“[His] bypassing of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP
officer-in-charge Deputy Director Leonardo Espina… is a proof of incompetent
leadership and contempt of public governance,” the lawmaker said.
Hicap said it appeared from news reports that only
Aquino, Purisima, and the US military forces were aware of the SAF operation,
and “thus, this collusion is the root cause of the deaths of the victims.”
He noted that one of the two SAF targets was the
Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli Abdhir, or “Marwan,” who was listed on Federal
Bureau of Investigation list of Most Wanted Terrorists.
Marwan was reportedly killed in the SAF operation, but
the other target, the Filipino Basit Usman, commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters, escaped.
“It is clear the US is interested in Marwan, and Aquino
has declared the mission to be sensitive, top secret. Hence, we want to
know from Aquino whether it is own decision to make this a secret or was it
ordered by the US,” Hicap said.
ordered by the US,” Hicap said.
Anakpawis also cautioned the public from laying the blame
for the soldiers’ death on the MILF, with whom the government forged a peace
agreement last year to end years of rebellion.
“We should recognize the basis of their struggle that led
to the peace process. The PNP-SAF incursion to MILF territory was
Aquino’s order, thus, [with] him lies the responsibility,” Hicap said.
“If we are to oppose the peace process, it would only
serve as justification for Aquino to launch a total war against the MILF which
would even lead to more deaths,” Hicap said.
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