MANILA, Philippines–Some Catholic bishops have echoed calls in Congress for President Aquino to apologize over the botched Mamasapano operation.
“Certainly, he’s the Commander in Chief,” Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel, Cotabato province, said when asked in a phone interview yesterday with reporters about the demand by some lawmakers for the President to take responsibility for the Jan. 25 massacre of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano.
“Humility is a sign of true leadership. He should accept responsibility. Genuine leaders never pass the buck. Humility is truth, a Christian virtue,” Gutierrez said as he urged Filipinos to pray for Mr. Aquino.
Senators Sergio Osmeña III and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito earlier blasted the President for supposedly being bullheaded and for refusing to apologize for any part he played in the Mamasapano operation.
If Osmeña had his way, he would have wanted Aquino to apologize for Mamasapano—just like his predecessor, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who said publicly she was sorry for the “Hello Garci” controversy.
Ejercito said it seemed Mr. Aquino was having a hard time admitting his blunders.
“His pride is too high and (he) is stubborn at times. Senator Osmeña is correct in saying that he is hardheaded,” Ejercito said.
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said he agreed with Osmeña that the President should apologize.
“Humility is a great virtue needed by public servants. Pride can lead to destruction,” Bastes said.
Not enough to apologize
Bishops Ramon Arguelles and Broderick Pabillo called on Mr. Aquino to step aside.
“He should step down to give the forsaken 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) eternal rest and give the Filipino people a fresh start,” said Arguelles.
“It’s not enough to apologize. Punish and prosecute the ones who are responsible because lives have been lost,” Pabillo added in a separate interview.
Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo pleaded with government and military authorities to avoid causing collateral damage in the ongoing clearing operations launched recently against members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao province and the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu province.
In an interview with Radyo Veritas on Monday, Bagaforo repeated Church appeals to government officials and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure the safety of civilians and their properties in mounting military offensive in the conflict areas.
The prelate said several roads between Cotabato City and Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province had already been blocked because of the intensified clash between the AFP and BIFF.
He added that the Cotabato archdiocese was preparing for the possible evacuation of residents at risk of being caught in the crossfire.
‘Is it worth it?’
In Tacloban City, Presidential Assistant on Food Security Francis Pangilinan said on Monday it was up to Aquino to decide if he should apologize for the botched SAF mission.
“That is his call,” Pangilinan told reporters during a visit here.
“There have been critical issues before and he survived. And he will survive this,” the former senator said.
“We know that the President is sincere. That is the main reason he was elected by the people. The people know that his objectives are good. If there are shortcomings, problems, Filipinos will understand him,” he said.
Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said demands that the President resign had no basis. “He has done so much for our economy. I mean, is it worth it (for him to resign) as demanded by some groups?” Petilla said.–With a report from Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas