Sen. Marcos not in favor of Aquino stepping down over Mamasapano incident

Sen. Bongbong Marcos. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Even Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is not in favor of President Aquino III stepping down from his post because of the Mamasapano incident that left 44 elite policemen dead.

“Dahil kung isipin natin, kung talagang mangyari yung mag-resign siya at mag-step down sya, anong mangyayari dyan? Ang mangyayari dyan ay masyadong magiging magulo ang Pilipinas (Come to think of it, what will happen if he resigns or steps down? The country might become more chaotic),” Marcos said in a radio interview.

“Tama yung nakita kong isang report, don’t step down. Step up. Step up to your responsibility. Step up to the country. And tell them exactly what is happening and what your role was in this Mamasapano massacre,” Marcos added.

But he stressed that the President should be held accountable if indeed he was to blame for the botched operation.

“Kung kasalanan nya ay kailangan niyang managot kung bakit nangyari yun, at siya ang Pangulo at siya ang inaasahan na mamuno dito sa sistema ng gobyerno natin, then he has to be accountable and he has to answer for it, depending on what (his role was),” said the senator.

“Kung sinasabi mong kasalanan nya, alin yung kasalanan nya (If you’re saying he’s to blame, what is he accountable for)? All of these things have to be known,” he added.

The senator, in a text message, urged Aquino to again face the nation and answer all the questions raised regarding his role on the Mamasapano operation.

“Dapat mag-statement siya sa bansa. We are in a crisis and the President must demonstrate leadership. Disappearing from public view is the opposite of leadership,” he said.