Aquino seeks to calm outrage

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday sought to calm public outrage over the death of 44 police commandos in a chaotic operation that targeted two wanted terrorists by taking responsibility for the officers’ families and letting go of the Philippine National Police chief who allegedly oversaw the mission.

He, too, had a lot of questions about the Mamasapano tragedy for which he demanded answers.

In a televised address to the nation, Mr. Aquino said that the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) operation against Jemaah Islamiyah bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was successful.

Marwan, the primary target of the operation, was killed in the SAF assault on his hideout in Pidsandawan village, Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, on Jan. 25.

But the secondary target, Marwan’s deputy Abdul Basit Usman, escaped.

Still, the mission was considered accomplished, although Mr. Aquino acknowledged that the government “paid a heavy price” for it.

“I am the father of this country and 44 of my children were killed. They can no longer be brought back. This tragedy happened during my term, and I will carry this to the end of my days,” Mr. Aquino said.

Addressing himself to the families of the 44 slain SAF troopers, Mr. Aquino said: “Just as I was responsible for your loved ones, so too am I responsible for you; it is my duty to ensure that the sacrifices made by your relatives are repaid.”

Then he promised them: “During my remaining 17 months in office, I am doing, and will continue to do, everything I can to guarantee your families’ well-being.”

Purisima resigns

Apparently to ease public anger at those responsible for the disastrous police mission, Mr. Aquino announced that he had accepted the resignation of Director General Alan Purisima, the suspended PNP chief who allegedly directed the SAF operation.

Word that Purisima had resigned and that Mr. Aquino had accepted his resignation went around late on Thursday but Palace and police officials denied it. But on Friday night, Mr. Aquino confirmed it.

“I have accepted, effective immediately, the resignation of General Purisima. I thank him for his many years of service prior to this tragedy,” Mr. Aquino said.

He said Purisima played a “vital role” in the government’s efforts to capture Marwan and Usman.

“He contributed greatly to the long preparations and in the many operations in pursuit of the two terrorists,” Mr. Aquino said.

He made it clear, however, that it was with a heavy heart that he accepted Purisima’s resignation, reminding the nation that the two of them had been friends “for a very long time.”

“It is also public knowledge that we go way back. During the attempted coup d’etat in 1987, I was confident, before we were ambushed, that we had enough security personnel. But because most of my companions were killed, my confidence wavered. It was Alan Purisima who designed and implemented a modified VIP protection course, and trained us to follow it,” Mr. Aquino said.

“From then, until now, we had gone through so much; he was with me in fighting interests that could betray us. When I was still with the opposition, while it was risky for his career to be close to me, Alan did not leave me,” the President said.

“This is why, perhaps, you would understand why it is painful for me that he would leave the service under these circumstances,” he said.

Surrender Usman

The President urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to cooperate with the government’s pursuit of Usman.

“If he remains within your territory, or is protected by one of your members, we expect you to surrender him to the authorities. If not, we expect you to do everything you can to help capture him. And if even this is not possible, do not interfere with our pursuit of Usman,” the President said.

On Jan. 31, the Inquirer reported that Mr. Aquino had written to MILF chief Murad Ebrahim, asking the MILF to clear the way for government security forces as they intensify their pursuit of Usman.

Mr. Aquino disclosed the contents of that letter in his speech on Friday night.

“May this serve as a warning and a reminder: We will get Usman, whatever you decide, regardless of who provides a safe haven for him, regardless of where he may be hiding. Let no one doubt: We are partners in pursuing peace and justice. To those who have lost their way, who would still stand in our way, remember this: You are fighting the State, and we will run you over,” Mr. Aquino said.

Peace brothers

The President said, however, that from the start, he has considered the MILF leadership his brothers in the pursuit of peace.

“Until now, I am confident that you will help us in seeking justice; that those who have done wrong should be held to account, especially if it is confirmed that there were SAF troopers who were executed despite being wounded and defenseless,” Mr. Aquino said.

“Your effort to limit the movements of the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) is a good step,” he said, referring to Thursday night’s operation by the MILF in North Cotabato province.

To the police force that has been demoralized by the great loss of lives in Mamasapano and to the military that has been heavily criticized for not coming to the police commandos’ aid, Mr. Aquino said: “We are with you. We will stand in front of you, beside you, and behind you, as needed; whatever is required of you, be assured that we are with you. I assure you: You are not alone.”

Vice President Jejomar Binay, Cabinet secretaries and undersecretaries, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, the Army, Navy, and Air Force chiefs were in attendance for Mr. Aquino’s speech held at the President’s Hall in Malacañang.

Most notable was the presence of the acting PNP chief, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, and other ranking police officials.

Espina, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and other officials in the President’s security cluster were all kept in the dark about the Jan. 25 operation against Marwan and Usman.

His own probe

Friday night was the second time that Mr. Aquino addressed the nation to deal with the public anger over the death of the 44 SAF troopers.

His first address last week did not exactly answer the questions of the public on what led to the Mamasapano debacle.

Friday night, the President said that as it was his “responsibility to find justice at the soonest possible time,” he conducted his own investigation and interviewed those who took part in the operation.

Conclusion

The President said he had come to the conclusion that there were at least three instances that indicated “situational changes” on the ground, which were different from the original plan, that it would have been best for the Mamasapano mission to have been aborted, postponed, or the plan “could have been dramatically changed.”

Without naming Director Getulio Napeñas, the sacked SAF commander, the President said the “commander of the operation should have been aware of this, especially since he has long been assigned to Mindanao. Situational awareness is demanded of him.”

“As commander, he had full knowledge of the entire plan, together with the dangers that came with it; he would be the first to know if the plan was being executed correctly. He should have known what was happening at every moment,” he said.

“How and why did it happen that there was no coordination? Why did the mission continue, when it had deviated so far from the original plan, and our troops were already in grave danger? These, and many others, are the questions that plague my mind. The former SAF commander will have an opportunity to answer these, and explain himself, in the appropriate proceedings,” Mr. Aquino said.

The President also warned those who wanted to “drive a wedge” between the AFP and the PNP that they would not succeed.

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