Aquino draws heavy fire

The President further claimed that Napeñas had failed to coordinate with the military, had refused to abort the mission even if the risks were getting higher, and had “fooled” him.

‘Scapegoat’

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, who is among the clerics calling on the President to resign, said Napeñas was just being used as a scapegoat.

“I hope he (Napeñas) tells the whole truth,” Arguelles said.

Asked about Aquino’s claim that he was fooled by Napeñas, Arguelles said: “If subordinates can deceive a higher-ranking officer, definitely there is gross incompetence.”

“Other AFP and PNP support units were not far away (from the clash site). It seems there was an order to refrain from intervening or the order to intervene was withheld. Wasn’t Aquino himself in Zamboanga monitoring the operation?” he added.

Equally responsible

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs, said Filipinos were not fools.

“The more the President blames others for that botched operation, the greater the belief of the Filipino people that he is as equally responsible for it,” he said.

Secillano said Aquino’s claim that he was fooled by Napeñas should not be used as a defense not to take responsibility for the Mamasapano fiasco.

“His being fooled does not absolve him of any responsibility for that operation,” Secillano said in a text message to reporters.