Wazzup Pilipinas!
Two years after the Mamasapano carnage, families of the fallen SAF 44 still call for justice. The wounds have not healed. The reason is the same one that torments many people in this country who have lost loved ones to crime and terrorism: justice has been elusive. But the buck now stops with the highest official involved in the disastrous Mamasapano raid, and that is former President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III.
The House Minority report on the Mamasapano finds Aquino liable for SAF men massacre. The bloc based its report on the findings of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Board of Inquiry as well as the Senate report that found Aquino ultimately responsible for violating the police chain of command.
President Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte met with the families of the 44 PNP-Special Action Force elite cops killed on January 25, 2015 at Mamasapano, Maguindanao. But the President seems to be diverting the attention of the Tokhang for Ransom using Mamasapano victims. Even the APC said that the issue helped Duterte's campaign leading to his win in the Presidential elections. I remember even before election, Duterte was already promising to open case of Mamasapano tragedy. He is definitely distracting the public. However, the PNP denied that the revival of the Mamasapano massacre investigation is meant to divert attention away from kidnap-extortion incidents involving rogue cops targeting Koreans.
Duterte revives the Mamasapano questions on lack of coordination and even air support. Why were air assets not used in Mamasapano? he asks. "Only 1 question that bothers me:Why there was a war the whole day, di tinawag ang air assets?"
Duterte is claiming that the botched Mamasapano operation was the brainchild of the US Central Intelligence Agency. Duterte tells Aquino to "Let it be brought to the open. It was an American adventure with the cooperation of some and apparently with your blessing. Sinabi mo, pawis na pawis ka sa TV and you were so stressed and you said, ‘Kasalanan ko ‘yan.’ But it is not enough."
He goes on to say "I'd be honest, and you can criticize me, I was really pissed off." "Bakit ninyo tinago na iyon was an operation of the CIA? Let it brought out in the open. It was an American adventure with the cooperation of some with your blessing." says Duterte. "Bakit pinadala ang SAF when SAF is geared to meet the challenges of urban terrorism? Eh yung terrain doon hindi alam ng police. You fed the young men to the lion’s den. Kung dalawa o tatlo, mapapatawad ko pa kayo." continues the President.
"I do not want to insult you but something really, really bad happened. You have to answer to the nation, why did you send the police? What's so special about the police? Why did you send the SAF when SAF is organized and geared into the service to meet the challenges of urban terrorism? Urban is urban," said Duterte.
Duterte forms the Mamasapano commission - a seven-man committee to give a report on what transpired in Mamasapano that led to the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos on January 25, 2015, claimed Deles advised PNoy to order standdown. Not true. Alternative commission, alternative facts. Let me remind you how legislators used Mamasapano to justify prejudice vs Bangsamoro, to discredit a document some of them never even read. The Mamasapano was a tragedy on so many levels....But it is now being diminished to politics rather than peace building too justify 7,000 plus "War on Drugs" cum "EJK" murders. This Mamasapano card is an obvious dead giveaway for desperation from this administration.
Duterte forms the Mamasapano commission - a seven-man committee to give a report on what transpired in Mamasapano that led to the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos on January 25, 2015, claimed Deles advised PNoy to order standdown. Not true. Alternative commission, alternative facts. Let me remind you how legislators used Mamasapano to justify prejudice vs Bangsamoro, to discredit a document some of them never even read. The Mamasapano was a tragedy on so many levels....But it is now being diminished to politics rather than peace building too justify 7,000 plus "War on Drugs" cum "EJK" murders. This Mamasapano card is an obvious dead giveaway for desperation from this administration.
Malacañang ensures it will not interfere with the independent commission’s re-investigation on Mamasapano clash. Former PNP-Special Action Force chief Getulio Napenas said former President Aquino should also be included in the complaint list on the Mamasapano encounter. While Senate President Koko Pimentel said that as far as they are concerned, the Senate has done its job with regards to the investigation of the operation in 2015.
Duterte should talk instead to the families of victims of the supposedly extrajudicial killings (EJKs). That's the more current news under Duterte's administration. I believe one of the reasons why Duterte wants to reopen the #Mamasapano tragedy is because he also wants to prove that the US was involved in the operation. Does he also want to see Aquino behind bars before the end of the year? Should Aquino and his accomplices should go to jail for the deaths?
Senator Leila De Lima has accused Duterte of using the Mamasapano massacre to cover up his leadership "crisis." "The second anniversary of the Mamasapano incident is again being used by Duterte to divert attention from the crisis his current leadership is facing, rather than to actually give justice to the SAF and Muslim civilian victims of that armed encounter." says De Lima.
Even Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has said that Duterte is riding on the Mamasapano massacre for his own gain. "That’s just a diversionary tactic to mask the failures of his administration" says Trillanes.
At the other side of the fence, Senator Grace Poe welcomed Duterte's decision to reopen the investigation eon the botched Mamasapano operation, hoping it would uncover new information "under much different political circumstances."
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II: “Now that he is no longer the president, the reinvestigation should answer among others the question on the culpability of the former president.”
PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said "Kung tutuusin, lahat doon dapat managot. Ang recommendation namin sa Board of Inquiry [ay] hanggang sa highest official na involved doon sa operation na ‘yun ang dapat managot.” By that logic, Bato should also be held accountable for the murder of the Korean businessman which happened just a few steps from his office in the middle of Camp Crame.
Aquino has already released a statement to answer Duterte's allegations on botched Mamasapano anti-terrorist operation. "Nangako po akong manahimik ng isang taon. Pero nitong Martes, nagsalita si Pangulong Duterte. Sa pakiwari ko: Tama lang po na tumugon ako." PNoy tells tells Duterte that the Mamasapano tragedy is not his fault. He said the Mamasapano incident would not have happened if his logical & legal order had been followed.
But is Aquino's mea culpa able to save him from the Mamasapano responsibility? They said he failed to take immediate action to help when things fell apart. Is he guilty as hell?
Protesters called on the Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to hasten the resolution of the case while the SAF 44 kin asked the Ombudsman to include all those responsible for the Mamasapano incident in the case. They also said the United States should also be held accountable. The Ombudsman said that the cases against Aquino are still undergoing preliminary investigation, adding that Aquino has asked for an extension to file his counter-affidavt. She has also ordered the former records chief of the Office of Special Prosecutor to explain in 24 hours why she failed to immediately file the cases against Purisima and Napeñas. The filing of charges related to Mamasapano delayed by 7 months. The Ombudsman will address the complaint against former president Aquino over his role in Mamasapano before she steps down in 2018.
While the PNP's 3rd in command, Director Benjamin Magalong, retires from service. He's the one who led the probe into the Mamasapano encounter.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that Piolo Pascual and Dingdong Dantes will star in a new Erik Matti film entitled "Pintakasi" that is all about the Mamasapano clash. Blockbuster!
67 people died that day. Not just 44. That number includes a child. Both sides lost sons,fathers,bros, etc., Grieve for all!
PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said "Kung tutuusin, lahat doon dapat managot. Ang recommendation namin sa Board of Inquiry [ay] hanggang sa highest official na involved doon sa operation na ‘yun ang dapat managot.” By that logic, Bato should also be held accountable for the murder of the Korean businessman which happened just a few steps from his office in the middle of Camp Crame.
Aquino has already released a statement to answer Duterte's allegations on botched Mamasapano anti-terrorist operation. "Nangako po akong manahimik ng isang taon. Pero nitong Martes, nagsalita si Pangulong Duterte. Sa pakiwari ko: Tama lang po na tumugon ako." PNoy tells tells Duterte that the Mamasapano tragedy is not his fault. He said the Mamasapano incident would not have happened if his logical & legal order had been followed.
But is Aquino's mea culpa able to save him from the Mamasapano responsibility? They said he failed to take immediate action to help when things fell apart. Is he guilty as hell?
Protesters called on the Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to hasten the resolution of the case while the SAF 44 kin asked the Ombudsman to include all those responsible for the Mamasapano incident in the case. They also said the United States should also be held accountable. The Ombudsman said that the cases against Aquino are still undergoing preliminary investigation, adding that Aquino has asked for an extension to file his counter-affidavt. She has also ordered the former records chief of the Office of Special Prosecutor to explain in 24 hours why she failed to immediately file the cases against Purisima and Napeñas. The filing of charges related to Mamasapano delayed by 7 months. The Ombudsman will address the complaint against former president Aquino over his role in Mamasapano before she steps down in 2018.
While the PNP's 3rd in command, Director Benjamin Magalong, retires from service. He's the one who led the probe into the Mamasapano encounter.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that Piolo Pascual and Dingdong Dantes will star in a new Erik Matti film entitled "Pintakasi" that is all about the Mamasapano clash. Blockbuster!
67 people died that day. Not just 44. That number includes a child. Both sides lost sons,fathers,bros, etc., Grieve for all!
Here is President "Noynoy} Aquino's address to the nation translated into a song:
Don't Cry for Me Mamasapano
by Monk's Hobbit
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see are the men you once knew
Although they were geared up to the nines
Now they're all dead and I'm mourning with you
I had to let it happen. Things need to change
Let us give Mindanao a chance for peace
Welcoming friends from our windows, walking out in the sun
So I chose freedom
I went around and tried everything new
For Gloria impressed me not at all
Please pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law
Don't cry for me Mamasapano
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild ways
MILF's insistence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
And as for Purisima, and as for him
He never commanded the men
Though it seemed to the world this was all I desired
These are illusions
He filed his resignation; I accepted it
It's better he leaves while he's charged
I trust him and I hope you trust me
Don't cry for me Mamasapano
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild ways
MILF's insistence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you.
But all you have to do is look at me to know
That every word is true
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see are the men you once knew
Although they were geared up to the nines
Now they're all dead and I'm mourning with you
I had to let it happen. Things need to change
Let us give Mindanao a chance for peace
Welcoming friends from our windows, walking out in the sun
So I chose freedom
I went around and tried everything new
For Gloria impressed me not at all
Please pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law
Don't cry for me Mamasapano
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild ways
MILF's insistence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
And as for Purisima, and as for him
He never commanded the men
Though it seemed to the world this was all I desired
These are illusions
He filed his resignation; I accepted it
It's better he leaves while he's charged
I trust him and I hope you trust me
Don't cry for me Mamasapano
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild ways
MILF's insistence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you.
But all you have to do is look at me to know
That every word is true
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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