A “COVER-UP” was how Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. described on Monday President Benigno Aquino III’s “alternative version” of the Mamasapano incident eight months after it happened last January 25.
“It’s a cover up, that’s what it is. It’s a cover up for the mistakes that were made not by the policemen but by other people like the suspended Chief PNP (Philippines National Police) and it would seem that the President has made some mistakes because he’s the one trying to cover it up now…” Marcos told reporters, referring to suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima.
“Palusot na lang yan!” he added.
Marcos was reacting to Aquino’s earlier statement that there was an “alternative version” on the bloody incident that left at least 44 PNP-Special Action Force men and several members of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) dead.
Aquino, in an interview with the Inquirer Group last week, said the photo of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” showing him dead in his hut, “posed many questions and that is what we want to resolve.” Marwan was one of the two targets of the SAF operation.
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Marcos said it was puzzling that the President seemed to believe the MILF than his own policemen.
“How do you think the policemen feel kung ganyan ang trato sa kanila? Nagsakripisyo na nga sila tapos gagawan pa ng kwento para hindi sila ang bayani kung hindi ang MILF pa,” he said.
“I’m more than disappointed, I think that he (President) owes the policemen an apology, pambihira naman yang ganyan,” the senator added.
Marcos said who fired the shot that killed Marwan was a “non-issue,” adding that what is important is that he has been neutralized and “we have one less terrorist to worry about.”
“However, it pains me to hear that the Commander-in-Chief, who gave the green light to the SAF operation, has now put a cloud of doubt on the heroism and the ultimate sacrifice of the Fallen 44 who accomplished their mission against overwhelming odds,” he said.
“The facts are established. The SAF went there on a mission sanctioned by the highest authorities to neutralize Marwan and his cohort Usman. The initial stage of the operation accomplished the first objective, and that is to neutralize Marwan. That means the SAF mission is a success, no matter how you look at it,” said the senator.
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