Aquino ‘not the best person’ to criticize BOI, Senate findings, says Cayetano

MANILA, Philippines —While they welcomed President Benigno Aquino III’s appeal for understanding on the Mamasapano incident, two senators on Thursday defended the Senate draft report on the incident, which he criticized as “speculation.”

Aquino lamented that instead of getting his side, the reports of the Senate and the Philippine National Police board of inquiry that conducted separate investigations on the incident contained speculations.

“Maraming tanong sa isip ng ating mamamayan ang masasagot ng mga ulat na ito. Sumasang-ayon po ang dalawang ulat sa mga nauna na nating pahayag tungkol sa mga detalye ng operasyon. Sa katunayan po, pinagtitibay ng dalawang report ang ating posisyon sa simula pa lang na malaking pagkakamali ang kawalan ng koordinasyon sa AFP,”  the President said during the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) commencement exercises at Camp General Mariano Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.

“Ang ikinalulungkot ko, imbis na magtanong sa akin ay naglagay ng ispekulasyon ang mga gumawa ng ulat. Maitatanong nga po natin: Paano naman makakatulong sa paglilinaw ng isyu kung hula ang gagamitin imbis na facts?”   he asked.

READ: FULL TEXT: President Aquino speech at PNPA graduation

But Senator Grace Poe, who led the Senate probe as head of the committee on public order, said their report that found the President responsible for the Mamasapano mission was based on sworn statements and documents.

“Ang pagsasalarawan ng mga aksyon ng Pangulo sa Senate report ay pawang hango sa mga text messages n’ya at ni Purisima na hindi naman itinatangi ang katotohanan gayun din ang konklusyon sa mga pangyayari sa Zamboanga ay base sa mga testimonya ng mga taong kausap n’ya sa araw na iyon,”  Poe said in a text message to reporters.

READ: Senate draft report: Aquino ‘ultimately responsible’ for Mamasapano mission

Purisima is resigned PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima, who submitted to the Senate  his exchange of text with Aquino during that fateful day of January 25.

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, one of 20 senators who signed the Senate draft report, also  defended their findings.

READ: 20 senators sign report holding Aquino responsible for Mamasapano incident

“That allegation of speculation is speculation because if the President and with all due respect, kung makikita n’ya, it’s all based on what was submitted to us,” said Cayetano during a weekly forum in the Senate,

He said the President was “not the best person” to criticize the BOI and the Senate reports because in the case of the BOI, it was not empowered to do an exhaustive report.

“And they were honest to admit that given the limitations,” he said, referring to the BOI.

“Ang Senado is empowered. However, the claims of national security and operational security, when sometimes it is really political security hampered the investigation and as I said, maganda ang report, matapang ang report pero incomplete eh.”

“But I think it is unfair to say na may speculation because these are all based sa mga sinabmit na testimonies at documents (sa committees),” he further said.

Despite this, Poe and Cayetano welcomed the President’s appeal for understanding on the Mamasapano debacle.

READ: Aquino stops short of sorry, asks for understanding

“The President’s appeal coupled for understanding coupled by his affirmation that the whole incident rests on his shoulder is welcome development to start the healing process particularly among the bereaved families of the fallen SAF (Special Action Force) heroes,” said Poe.

Cayetano said he was not asking an apology from the President but an acknowledgement that there was a  problem.

“So I think until we get firm answers, the President will continue to ask for understanding— many will give it to him but many will say we need these answers,” he said.

But for Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the President’s appeal for understanding was already enough.

“Para sa akin, sapat na ‘yon at sana matanggap at tanggapin na din ng sambayanan ang pag-ako at pagpapa-kumbaba ni Pangulong Aquino,” Escudero said in a separate text message.

“Nasa kamay na ngayon ng DOJ (Department of Justice) at Ombudsman ang pagpapanagot at pagsampa ng kaso laban sa mga may pananagutan,” he added.