PNoy on his absence in SAF 44 arrival honors: ‘I wanted to give families time to grieve’

(Updated 7:40 p.m.) "I wanted to give the bereaved families time to grieve."

 

This was how President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday tried to justify his absence during the arrival honors for 42 of the 44 police commandos killed during the January 25 Mamasapano operation.

 

In a speech during the Philippine National Police Academy graduation rites, Aquino maintained that he was not unsympathetic to those who lost their loved ones during the botched anti-terror mission.

 

"Ikinalulungkot kong may mga pamilyang nawalan ng asawa, kapatid, anak dahil sa nangyari," Aquino said.

 

"Ikinalulungkot kong sa pagnanais kong bigyan ng espasyong magluksa ang mga makakakita sa unang pagkakataon ang nasawi nilang kaanak ay may mga nag-isip na ako ay manhid at walang pakikisama," he added.

 

The President further said that he wanted to seek answers first before facing the families of the slain police commandos.

 

"Ang gusto ko noon ay makatulong sa paghilom. Ang gusto ko po sana, kapag may nagtanong, 'Ano ang nangyari? Bakit sila namatay? Ano na po ang mangyayari,' ay may dala na akong sagot," Aquino said.

 

"Kung ang naging sagot ko po sa mga katanungan ay 'Hindi ko po alam,' paano ako makakatulong sa paghilom?" he added.

 

This was the first time Aquino addressed this issue. He made these statements a week after a Pulse Asia poll revealed majority public disapproval toward his decision to skip the arrival honors.

‘I’m only human’

Aquino, who attended the inauguration of a car manufacturing plant in Laguna during the arrival honors, likewise said it is impossible for him to attend to all things at the same time.

“Opo, ako ang Pangulo, pero tao rin ako. Hindi ko kayang basahin ang iniisip ng bawat kausap ko, at hindi ko kayang mabantayan ang lahat sa lahat ng panahon,” he said.

He nevertheless committed to hold those liable for the botched Mamasapano operation.

“Hindi ko naman po sinabi na kagaya ako ng Diyos na alam ang lahat, pero responsibilidad ko na itama ang mali kapag nadiskubre ang mga ito. Kaya sinisiguro ko po sa inyo: Nirerespeto natin ang tamang proseso. Mananagot ang dapat managot,” the President said.

Aquino also vowed to continue doing what is right amid controversies facing his administration.

“Gaya po ng aking panata, patuloy kong gagawin ang tama at makatwiran. Patuloy kong gagawin ang lahat ng aking makakaya upang paglingkuran ang lahat, at maging totoo sa aking sinumpaang tungkulin,” he said. — KG/BM, GMA News