Bam Aquino says there is no reason to oust President

MANILA, Philippines — With President Benigno Aquino III taking responsibility over the Mamasapano incident, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV saw no reason why his cousin should be ousted from his post.

The senator recognized the right of every Filipino to express their opinion but warned against a coup d’état, saying it would just further destabilize the country.

“Of course karapatangng bawat Filipino ‘yan. ‘Yan ho ‘yung pinaglaban noong 1986, magkaroon ng demokrasya ‘yung taumbayan so lahat naman tayo libre na sabihin ‘yung nasa loob ng puso. In fact, most Filipinos do that online…”  Senator Aquino told reporters when asked about the allegedly brewing coup plot against the Aquino administration.

Senator Bam Aquino. FILE PHOTO

(Of course, that is the right of every Filipino. We fought for that democracy in 1986, so all of us our free to say what our heart feels. In fact, most Filipinos do that online.)

“That’s their right. Of course at the end of the day, we’re hoping na hindi na tayo magka-coup kasi ang isang coup, that will set us back by so many  years at ‘yung arangkada ngayon ng ating ekonomiya sayang naman kung magka-kudeta  tayo, mas makakagulo pa,” he said.

(That’s their right. Of course, at the end of the day, we’re hoping that there’ll be no coup because it only set us back by so many years and hamper the growth of our economy. Holding a coup will only lead to more chaos.)

Instead of destabilizing the country,  the senator urged everyone to help find the truth behind the Mamasapano encounter  and  look for justice for the 44 elite policemen who perished from the incident last January 25.

Besides, he said, the President had already owned up to the incident that was why the senator was wondering why Aquino’s critics were still demanding answers from him.

“Ang pinagtatakhan ko nga, is noong last public address n’ya, inako na naman n’ya ‘yung responsibilidad e. Sinabi na n’ya, ‘I’m responsible for this, I’m the commander in chief,’ at nasabi na rin n’ya na ‘yung output nito which of course ‘yung pagkamatay ng ating kasama sa kapulisan dadalhin n’ya hanggang mamatay s’ya,”  said the senator.

(What perplexes me is that during his last public address, he already took responsibility. He had said, ‘I’m responsible for this, I’m the commander in chief,’ and he had said the output of the operation, which of course was the death the policemen and that he would carry that with him until the day of his death.)

“So every time na may nagssabi, bakit hindi nya inaako yung  responsibilidad,’ nagtataka ako, kasi dun sa statement n’ya, inako talaga n’ya ‘yung reponsibilidad(So every time that someone would say, ‘why didn’t he take responsibility,’ I get confused, because in his address, he really took the responsibility). I’m not sure what else he needs to say aside from that.  He already said that it’s his responsibility and he owned up to it already,” he further said.

So when asked if there were valid grounds to call for Aquino’s ouster, the senator immediately said no.

“Think about it ha, ouster napakabigat nu’n. Ouster, that’s an extra-constitutional act, napakabigat n’yan (Think about it: an ouster is too heavy (a punishment). An ouster is an extra-constitutional act—that’s too heavy),” he said.

“Kailangan nating magtiwala na may mga proseso naman tayo na pwdeng magresolve ng mga issues na ito. I understand emotions are very high pero at the end of the day, ang hinahanap pa rin natin kung ano ‘yung magiging maganda para sa ating bansa…

“I’m hoping that we can resolve all of our issues through the proper government processes and through the proper judicial processes. Hindi na kailangang magka extra-constitutional means,” the senator added.

(We need to trust the processes that can resolve these issues. I understand emotions are very high, but at the end of the day, what we’re looking for is one which will benefit the country…

I’m hoping that we can resolve all of our issues through the proper government processes and through the proper judicial processes. We don’t have to resort to extra-constitutional means.)

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