Aquino on Mamasapano incident: My being emotional may worsen problem

President Benigno Aquino III speaks during the TAYO awarding ceremony on Tuesday. Photo by Official Gazette

MANILA, Philippines—In one of the few public appearances of President Benigno Aquino III after the Mamasapano clash, he spoke about trying his best not to give in to his emotions in the face of problems.

Aquino, during the Tayo (Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations) Awards in Malacañang on Tuesday, said he continued to recall the spirit of Edsa People Power as he faced various challenges during his term.

After enumerating the calamities that struck the country in 2013, he mentioned the infamous Mamasapano clash, which left 44 policemen, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and at least five civilians dead.

“Kamakailan lang humarap ulit ang sambayanan sa panibagong pagsubok bunsod ng insidente sa Mamasapano (Lately, the nation again faced a new challenge caused by the Mamasapano incident),” he told the attendees of the event.

“Bilang Pangulo, ginagawa ko ang lahat upang harapin at tugunan ang mga suliranin ng bansa. Madalas binabalewala na lang natin ang pagod at puyat (As President I am doing everything to face and answer the country’s problems. Oftentimes I just disregard fatigue and lack of sleep),” he said. “Hindi ako pwedeng magpadala sa bugso ng aking emosyon dahil baka mapalala ko pa ang problema (I cannot become emotional because that might just worsen the problem).”

“Sa bawat pagkakataon kailangan kong maging mahinahon at laging balikan kung para saan natin ginagawa ang ating pagsisikap (In every opportunity I have to be calm and to recall why we persevere),” he explained.

He said the aim was to ensure that the mistakes of the past would not be repeated.

Tayo Awards Foundation Inc. partnered with the Edsa People Power Commission this year to recognize youth organizations that contribute to nation-building.

In his speech, Aquino congratulated the awardees and nominees for servicing Filipinos.

“Mula sa pagkakaloob ng kabuhayan at dekalidad na edukasyon para sa mga katutubo at kapos-palad nating kababayan, paglinang sa kaalaman sa modernong kagamitan, pagsusulong ng musikang Pilipino, pagpapabuti ng supply ng kuryente, at pag-aruga sa kalusugan, hanggang sa pangangalaga sa kalikasan; nakikibahagi kayo sa solusyon imbes na dumagdag sa problema (From giving livelihood and quality education to indigenous peoples and the needy, teaching how to use modern equipment, promoting Filipino music, improving the supply of electricity, nurturing health, to caring for the environment; you are contributing to the solution instead of adding to the problem),” the President said.

The said event was held at Malacañang during a Senate hearing on the Mamasapano debacle, which has been blamed on Aquino and resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, who was allegedly allowed to head the operation despite being suspended for his involvement in an anomalous transaction.

The President has been receiving flak not only for the handling of the mission but also for remaining relatively mum on his involvement, despite his public speeches on the matter.