Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III should order both the military and the police to refrain from further issuing statements “that would only stoke the fire,” Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Thursday.
“You are not at war with each other, so shut up and stop fighting in public,” Escudero said in a statement, reacting to the seeming word war between officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the Mamasapano incident.
Instead of bickering in public, he said, the leadership of the AFP and the PNP should take their cases to the Board of Inquiry (BOI) and other probe panels that will investigate the Mamasapano carnage.
“If they have so much to say, they can do so within the walls of the Board of Inquiry and before the probing panels. If they want to fight, go lock themselves in a room and do not drag the public into it,” said Escudero.
The senator said the ongoing word war between the police and the military over responsibility and liability in the PNP-Special Action Force operation “is not only unhealthy but unprofessional, as well. It goes to the path of using the incident to turn against each other when they are brothers in uniform.”
“If they want respect, they better start by deserving it,” he said.
Escudero then urged the President, as commander-in-chief, to order both the AFP and the PNP to refrain from further issuing statements.
“Our military and police forces should rally as one in support of law enforcement, justice and peace, and not be at war with each other,” he further said.
It was Senate President Frankin Drilon, who asked Wednesday the PNP and the AFP to “shut up” and just to speak on the Mamasapano incident during official investigations.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer, also echoed Drilon’s call.
“Hindi appropriate ‘yun. It’s doing more harm than good,” Trillanes said during a weekly forum in the Senate.
Even Malacañang, he said, should have one voice so as to avoid further confusion.
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