‘Due to misleading info, Aquino angered at lost chance to remedy Mamasapano’

President Benigno Aquino III. Screengrab from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines – Amid discussion on the possibility of President Benigno Aquino III issuing a public apology over the Mamasapano debacle, a Palace official said it was not surprising that the Chief Executive would feel frustrated with the turn of events.

“I also would not begrudge him for the anger that he feels na hindi siya nabigyan din ng pagkakataon na makagawa ng hakbang na tama ayon doon sa sitwasyon sa baba,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters on Wednesday.

(I also would not begrudge him for the anger that he feels that he was not given the opportunity to make the proper and correct steps to remedy the situation on the ground.)

Valte was referring to Aquino being allegedly misled that the Mamasapano operation last January 25 proceeded as planned.

Asked about why the President has taken responsibility for the botched mission, which resulted in the deaths of 67 Filipinos, but has yet to issue an apology, Valte simply said, “From the point of view of the President that he was not given correct information at the time that it was necessary.”

“The first text to him inform[ed] him that artillery support was present and that extraction was ongoing. If you read the text it was quite apparent and quite obvious that there was no urgency as it was presented to him, as it was conveyed to him,” she said.

It was former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima, at that time suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman on graft charges, who texted Aquino that the Special Action Force (SAF) group pursuing international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, was being supported by mechanized and artillery units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

However, it was later revealed that the military was not able to immediately respond to the request for support because of the late notice.

“So moving forward, obviously, the President found out on his own that things on the ground were different,” Valte explained.

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