Aquino playing safe in not apologizing, says Santiago
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III, in his refusal to apologize for the Mamasapano incident, is avoiding any criminal or civil liability after his term ends in 2016, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said on Wednesday.
Santiago said the President should have immediately told the truth to the public the moment the Mamasapano crisis began brewing.
READ: Ramos to Aquino: Do an Arroyo, say sorry
“The truth should have been released immediately the moment that the crisis began brewing. Immediately, the President should have by himself told the truth to the Filipino public,” she told reporters when asked about the President’s refusal to apologize for the Mamasapano operation.
“There’s a question of well if that’s the truth, why are you not apologizing? The answer is because he (Aquino) wants to avoid any liability arising from a confession after his term ends in 2016,” the senator said.
“Remember that after he’s no longer president, he becomes liable to all manner of suits. He loses immunity from suit both civil and criminal so he’s afraid that if he apologizes in effect some courts might consider that that is a confession admissible in law and in effect therefore he will be his own worse witness. That’s why he does not want to apologize. He wants to evade any criminal or even civil liability after 2016,” she added.
READ:Trillanes’ advice to Aquino: Don’t fall into ‘trap’ of apologizing
Santiago was one of the 20 senators who signed a Senate draft report that found the President responsible, among others, for the January 25 Mamasapano operation that left 44 elite policemen dead.
READ: Senate draft report: Aquino ‘ultimately responsible’ for Mamasapano mission
The report has yet to be discussed in the plenary when Congress resumes its session in May. ID
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