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PNoy to deliver nationwide address on Mamasapano ‘misencounter’
By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News
(Updated 5:49 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III will deliver on Wednesday night a nationwide address on the deadly clash in Maguindanao involving members of the PNP-Special Action Force and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which left at least 44 government forces dead.
The President’s official schedule sent to the media on Tuesday afternoon stated that Aquino will deliver his “message to the nation” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The President’s official schedule sent to the media on Tuesday afternoon stated that Aquino will deliver his “message to the nation” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Malacañang confirmed the address will be on the Mamasapano incident, which has affected congressional deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The law will embody the peace agreement signed by the Philippine government with the MILF in March 2014.
The Senate committee on local government on Monday suspended the hearings on the BBL. At the House of Representatives, the ad hoc committee on the BBL has also decided to suspend the discussions on the measure’s provisions pertaining to national defense and public order following the clash.
At least 44 elite cops were killed while 12 others were injured in an encounter with members of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) last Sunday.
The police officers supposedly entered a MILF-controlled area in Mamasapano town while trying to arrest Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Commander Marwan, whose presence had been confirmed in the area.
MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said their group only defended themselves during the incident. He added that government forces did not inform their group about the operation.
Roxas also earlier said that top officials of the PNP, which he has direct supervision over, were not aware of the SAF operation in Mamasapano town.
Other televised addresses
Other televised addresses
Aquino has delivered other televised nationwide addresses in the past, particularly when Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) was threatening the Philippines in 2013, and at the height of the Ebola virus in some African countries last year.
He also addressed the nation last year to defend his administration’s controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
Earlier this month, the President likewise delivered an address calling for public cooperation during the recently concluded visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA News
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