Tingting, Peping divided over ousting Aquino

MANILA, Philippines—Even the Cojuangcos, the relatives of President Benigno Aquino III, are divided on calling for the resignation of their nephew a month after the bloody operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

During the protest action staged by various groups at the Our Lady of Edsa Shrine on Sunday, presidential uncle and former Tarlac representative Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and aunt former Tarlac governor Margarita “Tingting” de los Reyes Cojuangco conveyed different views on how Aquino should respond to calls for his resignation.

For Tingting, her nephew should resign because of the Mamasapano incident.

“Ideally, yes (Aquino should resign following the Mamasapano incident). Anyone who made him who he is today should likewise resign in the heed of conscience,” she said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

But she believes that the resignation of Aquino and his cohorts will not happen as “they are the ones who get all the benefits.”

She also hit the President for being the only Aquino afraid of People Power.

Meanwhile, Aquino’s uncle Peping was hesitant for calling for the ouster of the chief executive, saying that he should be given a chance to explain himself.

“For me, let’s give him a chance. He should appoint a ‘shadow Cabinet’ which is composed of people who have different ideas because he is only listening to those who are surrounding him who are obviously not doing well,” he said in an interview.

Although admitting that Aquino is responsible for the Mamasapano operation as the commander-in-chief, Peping said that public should be open for the possibility that his advisers are the ones at fault.

“I want to give him a chance because his advisers might be the ones at fault. He is always saying that the masses are his bosses, it’s time for him to make good of his promise,” he added.

“If he does not comply with the reforms in the elections, I want him to go also,” Peping cautioned.

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