Aquino to address nation Wednesday

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–President Aquino will address the nation Wednesday in connection with the bloody encounter between elite police commandos and Moro rebels in Maguindanao province on Sunday.

Malacañang announced late Tuesday afternoon that the President was scheduled to go on national television to deliver a “message to the nation” at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

A Palace official confirmed that the President would tackle questions and issues surrounding the firefight that left at least 44 police commandos dead.

As of Tuesday, the President’s order on the encounter was for the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to study all options to honor the fallen policemen.

In an interview with state-run dzRB radio, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said, “We have to understand the entirety of the process and look at the big picture.”

Coloma said Malacañang respected the decision of both chambers of Congress to suspend hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law. “We understand the need to clarify what happened in Maguindanao … that is why we should be given the opportunity to uncover the whole truth of what happened there.”

Coloma himself could not make an official count of the dead commandos slain in the firefight. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front said they counted 64 dead policemen.