Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento. PHOTO FROM CONGRESS.GOV.PH.
MANILA, Philippines – Allies belittled the planned ouster of various groups against President Benigno Aquino III over his supposed involvement in the bloody Mamasapano operation that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members dead in an attack by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In a statement, Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento, secretary general of the Liberal Party, cited the group National Transformation Council (NTC) that called for Aquino’s head and the formation of a transition council. Among the members are former Senator Francisco Tatad and former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez.
He said the group is only composed of “political has-beens.”
“Why would our people support a group of political has-beens who have done nothing to help our nation to bring down a leader who has done a lot for them? That wouldn’t make sense,” Sarmiento said.
He also said that one NTC member was supposed to head a sports organization but was removed over allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
“They (NTC) [members] have no credibility and have no moral basis to be calling for President Aquino’s ouster. Buking na sila ng mga tao,” he said.
Iloilo Rep. and LP member Jerry Trenas said the members of the group seeking to oust the President could only fill the size of a small gym.
“They would be lucky if they can gather enough people to fill a small gym in their call for another people power to remove President Aquino from office,” Trenas said in a statement.
The NTC is among the various groups holding protests during the run-up of the Edsa Revolution anniversary for the ouster of President Aquino over the Mamasapano tragedy. The groups took off from the anniversary of the movement that put to power the President’s late mother Cory to power after the Marcos dictatorship.
Aquino’s aunt and uncle, former Tarlac governor Tingting Cojuangco and Peping Cojuangco, have also expressed their dissatisfaction with Aquino’s handling of the country. They are members of the Council on Philippine Affairs, which has been talking to groups demanding the ouster of President Aquino or rallying for reforms in the government.
In a press release, Akbayan party-list said the celebration of the Edsa revolution is “marred by the intention of a current crop of political opportunists and vultures to exploit it.”
The group also said the “minions” “hypocrites” and “fraudsters” were using the Edsa commemoration to “hijack” the anger of the public.
“In the mold of former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, rogue religious leaders infamously known as the ‘Mitsubishops,’ Peping Cojuangco, Kit Tatad, the extreme left, and the recent addition, widely discredited Ed Kabalu and alleged MRT extortionist Al Vitangcol, this unholy but expected alliance of Arroyo and Napoles minions, hypocrites, fraudsters, and political has-beens are shamelessly hijacking the people’s grief, anger and confusion over the Mamasapano tragedy,” according to the party-list which ran under Aquino’s Liberal Party alliance in the 2013 elections.
“Under the promise of ‘transformation’ and ‘transition,’ they take advantage of the unfulfilled promises of Edsa by calling for a ‘new people power,'” it added.
Allegations over Aquino’s hand in the botched operation stemmed from reports that he authorized resigned police chief Alan Purisima to call the shots despite his suspension. Purisima then confirmed in Monday’s Senate hearing that it was him who informed Aquino on the results of the operation meant to take down two terrorists allegedly coddled by the MILF.
Sacked SAF commander Getulio Napenas, who was accused by Aquino of scuttling the operation by failing to coordinate, meanwhile said it was Purisima who gave the go-signal.