Former president Fidel V. Ramos. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Former President Fidel Ramos on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow for the “slaughter” of Special Action Force (SAF) troops in Maguindanao but said the peace process should not die with the fallen commandos.
In a news conference, Ramos, who formed the elite group in the 1980s, urged President Benigno Aquino III to declare a national day of mourning for the 44 SAF fatalities.
“There should be a national day of mourning so we all can condole with their families, grieve and honor them. There should be no hesitation,” Ramos said.
“Do not let it be part of your legacy to be always hesitant,” Ramos said, addressing Mr. Aquino.
Day of nat’l mourning
Hours later, in a televised address, President Aquino said he would proclaim “a day of national mourning.”
Ramos stressed that the victims of the “slaughter” of the SAF personnel by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano town deserved to be mourned.
Soldiers as well as policemen, who are guardians of security, are those who love peace the most, he said.
“They are the ones who suffer most (in conflicts) because of the risk of instant or untimely death, the hardship of separation from their families and the difficulty of being in the jungle.”
There are several procedures under the peace process, including the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and decommissioning of the MILF armed forces, Ramos said.
“All of these procedures are going to be severely affected in as far as the timeline of President Aquino’s term,” he said.
“I hope the peace process does not die also with these SAF men so we can have a well-founded and long-lasting peace. Let us not make the peace process a fatality,” the former President said.
He attributed the “needless death” of many young SAF officers to inadequate confidence-building measures among the civilian-military-police stakeholders; the poor or lack of coordination; the faulty written standard operating procedures and rules of engagement; the slipshod monitoring of the existing ceasefire; the lack of teamwork; poor unit leadership and tactical intelligence; the lack of sincerity to pursue peace on the part of the MILF; the inadequate higher command guidance and poor strategic direction from the President.
Laid-back attitude
“There appears to be too much of a complacent, laid-back attitude on the part of the high government officials, peace negotiators and even field commanders regarding the ongoing peace process,” Ramos said.
“It should be realized by all those responsible for achieving enduring peace and sustained development in Mindanao, starting with the commander in chief of both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (President Aquino), that it is their ‘25/8 hands-on’ commitment and unswerving determination that will result in a win-win solution for all,” he said.
He pointed out that then President Corazon Aquino was able to forge a peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari because of her hands-on approach and her willingness to be in the middle of the negotiations.
“If you are in Malacañang it is not business as usual. You have to work 25 hours a day and eight days a week. You have to juggle the balls and not drop any of them, otherwise, the country will fall to the ground,” Ramos recalled.