Slain SAF commando’s pa: PNoy evasive on reinforcements in Mamasapano

Some of the relatives of the police commandos that died in the Mamasapano misencounter were disappointed with President Benigno Aquino III's explanations when they pressed him over the lack of reinforcements that could have saved the lives of the fallen troopers, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported on Friday.

Rico Erana, the father of one of the Fallen 44 Sr. Insp. John Garry Alcantara Erana, found Aquino evasive when asked about the military assistance that failed to save the policemen.
 

"Parang paiwas nga 'yung sagot niya e, parang paiwas e, kaya 'yung mga kamag-anak ng mga biktima ng massacre, siyempre dismayado," Erana said.

 

The report added that Facebook posts of an alleged family member of a fallen SAF trooper detailed their conversation with the President.

When GMA News Online contacted the family member and asked about the post, the person denied owning the said Facebook account. The account itself has also been taken down.

 

According to the posts, the family member said they asked Aquino for an explanation why no reinforcements came but the President just said sending help to the troopers was not an easy task.

The President also reminded the families that "namatay din ang tatay ko, alam ko ang nararamdaman niyo kaya patas tayong lahat," the family member said.

 

Aquino arrived unannounced at Camp Crame on Wednesday night and talked to the families of the slain policemen for seven hours. Cerbo said the conference ended at midnight.

 

The meeting was set up to discuss the financial assistance package promised to the policemen's families. Media was barred from covering the event.

No raised voices
 

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the President wanted to have a private moment with the families.

 

Cerbo also denied reports that voices were raised during the meeting.

 

"Sa obserbasyon ko, wala po," Cerbo said. "To say kung may nagalit, mukhang hindi, hindi pwedeng mangyari 'yon."

 

Manila Standard Today reported on Friday that Aquino scolded some of the slain policemen's relatives during the conferences with each of the families. It also mentioned a heated exchange with the relatives.

 

A representative of Eliza Abirin Esmula, widow of fallen SAF trooper PO2 Amman Misuari, said he did not hear voices being raised during the event.

 

"Parang wala namang ganon, wala akong narinig," the close family friend told GMA News Online.

 

The representative volunteered to attend the event on behalf of Esmula, who had sore eyes at that time.

 

For her part, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino had "frank" discussions with the relatives, who asked the President pressing questions on how their loved ones died in the hands of Moro rebels with whom the government has an existing peace agreement.

 

“It was another face-to-face with them. He [Aquino] did not shy away from their questions. Understandably, emotions are still running high. It has not been a month since the loss of their loved ones,” Valte told reporters on Friday afternoon.

 

On Wednesday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said no heated exchanges took place between Aquino and the bereaved families during the meeting. He also said it was Aquino’s personal decision to meet with the families again.

 

The 44 SAF men died in a firefight involving the MILF, with whom the Philippine government had signed a peace deal last year. Members of the breakaway BIFF were also involved in the firefight. —Amanda Fernandez/NB, GMA News