‘Reopening of Mamasapano probe meant to derail Roxas’ 2016 run’

Presidential candidate and former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Reopening the Senate investigation into the massacre of 44 elite Special Action Force (SAF) troopers—which became one of the biggest challenges to hit Aquino administration—was merely intended to sabotage the ratings of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, a stalwart of the ruling party said on Thursday.

“That is the objective, tingin ko, na pababain ang ratings ni Presidente (Benigno Aquino III) para maapektuhan ang kandidato ng Daang Matuwid,” LP spokesperson and Caloocan Rep. Edgardo Erice said in an interview at the LP headquarters in Quezon City on Thursday.

(I think the objective is to drag down the ratings of the President so that the bet of the Straight Path will also be affected.)

Erice said the opposition members are willing to do anything to ruin the LP’s campaign.

“Nakita nila na after naendorse ni Pangulong Aquino si Mar Roxas talagang umakyat ang ratings ni Secretary Mar kaya nu’ng nakita nila ito, pinipilit nilang pababaain ‘yung ratings ng pangulo kahit ‘yung, kung pwede ngang isisi ‘yung pagkamatay ni Bonifacio, isisisi nila kay Pangulo at kay Secretary Mar Roxas para bumaba ‘yung ratings,” he said.

(They noticed that when President Aquino endorsed Mar Roxas, the latter’s rating really improved. They want to drag it down, so they will do everything, including fault Aquino and Roxas for the death of (Andres) Bonifacio just so the ratings of the two will suffer.)

Two Senate committees, one of which is headed by presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe who had earlier accused Roxas as one of the prime movers behind her disqualification from the presidential race, have decided to reconvene to investigate anew the Mamasapano incident.

The Senate report on the incident found Aquino was “ultimately responsible” for the clash which killed more than 60 Filipinos.

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

What prompted the Senate to reopen the probe is the recommendation of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, an ally of Vice President Jejomar Binay, to tackle a “possibly new evidence” that could be significant in bringing closure to the controversial raid in January 2015.

READ: Enrile info prompts new Mamasapano inquiry

The bloody Mamasapano debacle was said to have exposed the weakness in Aquino’s leadership amid reports that he put primacy over the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front before his own men.

Erice said the motive behind the reopening was merely political, saying Binay, Poe and former SAF chief Getulio Napeñas, a senatorial aspirant running under Binay’s ticket, would only use the Mamasapano hearing for grandstanding.

He said he pities the families the “SAF 44” left behind because they are being used by the election candidates he mentioned to boost their popularity.

READ: SAF 44 families welcome reopening of probe into Mamasapano carnage

“Kung eto ay para lang sa pagsusulong sa pagbubuhay ng kampanya, kawawa naman, nakakalungkot naman ang mga naulila ng ating SAF 44 dahil talagang prone sila sa agitation ng iba’t ibang sektor dito sa ating lipunan,” he said.

(If this is meant to advance the campaign of these candidates then I pity the relatives of the SAF 44 because they are really prone to agitation from different sectors in our society.) JLDJ/IDL