PNoy won't say sorry over Mamasapano because of self-righteousness, ex-ally says

President Benigno Aquino III refuses to apologize for his involvement in the Jan. 25 Mamasapano police operation not only because he believes he hasn’t done anything wrong, but also because his closest advisers are afraid to criticize him, a former ally said.

 

Resigned Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello on Thursday urged Aquino anew to acknowledge his responsibility for Oplan Exodus, the covert police mission to arrest three high-profile terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao after a Pulse Asia survey indicated 79 percent of Filipinos are dissatisfied with the president’s explanation about the incident.

 

The former lawmaker, however, believes Aquino isn’t keen on apologizing because of his “self-righteousness.”

 

“I think [the president’s refusal to apologize is] just [due to] stubbornness and self-righteousness, with a lingering but eroding conviction that he didn’t do anything wrong. Another problem is his being surrounded by aides afraid to tell the emperor he has no clothes,” Bello said.

 

Admit grave error

 

Nevertheless, the former Aquino ally prodded the president to confess he violated the Ombudsman’s suspension order on former Philippine National Police Chief Director General Alan Purisima by allowing him to be involved in the planning and implementation of Oplan Exodus.

 

“[The president] should admit his grave error of agreeing with Purisima's decision not to inform the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) of the operation and not following the protocols governing territorial access agreed upon with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Bello said.

 

On Tuesday, a draft Senate committee report on the Mamasapano incident said Aquino was “ultimately responsible for the outcome” of the deadly mission.

 

The draft report also said Aquino “assented to Purisima’s unlawful exercise of official functions, particularly the latter’s usurpation of authority or official functions.”

 

“The president relied on and directly coordinated with the suspended PNP Chief, as it was shown that he continued to communicate with the latter on Oplan Exodus, based on testimonies and evidence presented in the public hearings,” the document said.

 

Bello cut ties with Aquino and resigned as Akbayan’s congressional representative last week, saying he is fed up with the latter’s refusal to accept responsibility for the Mamasapano tragedy.

 

In addition to admitting his reliance on Purisima, the former lawmaker said Aquino should also confess he green-lit the anti-terror operation after feeling pressure from the United States government. 

 

“[Aquino should] admit his mistake of succumbing to US pressure to carry out the operation and allowing US operatives to manage it. He should say he is ready to face impeachment and criminal charges for his mistakes but beg the country to allow him to finish his term as president,” Bello said.

Bello is just the latest to urge Aquino to apologize. Senator Serge Osmeña, former Senator Ping Lacson, and former President Fidel Ramos have previously said that the president should say acknowledge his errors in the operation.
 

Liberal Party vice chairman for political affairs Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, however, sees no need for Aquino to explain himself further even amid the latest decline in his trust and satisfaction ratings. 

 

“What happened [in Mamasapano] had been fully explained by hundreds of witnesses. The president had already talked about the issue three times,” he said. — JDS, GMA News