MONTHS after the botched terror mission in Mamasapano that claimed the lives of at least 65 people, including 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers, the trust and approval rating of President Benigno Aquino III has fallen to its lowest level yet.
The President’s addition to the confusion about the issue could have contributed to this, as almost 8 out of 10 Filipinos say in polls that the explanation given on the government’s role, particularly that of Aquino, regarding the Mamasapano operation was not enough.
The questions among kababayans ensued: Should President Aquino be impeached? Should he resign? Could he be charged criminally after his term is over?
Despite PNoy’s falling approval and trust ratings, however, 77 percent of kababayans in America who voted in The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America’s poll said President Aquino should NOT resign. They commented that Aquino should own up to his actions instead of blaming other people and do everything to help the country move on.
Balitang America further reported that the remaining 23 percent of those who voted in the same online poll “Isyu Ngayon” answered yes. They contended that with 44 SAF troopers killed — Aquino, Purisima, and Napenas all need to go. Many Fil-Am activists who demonstrated in the streets also clamor for Aquino’s resignation.
The Balitang America poll results are in congruence with, but are a bit kinder to Aquino than the Pulse Asia survey among kababayans in the Philippines, where a plurality of those surveyed — 42 percent — actually do not want Aquino to step down. Only 29 percent agreed that PNoy should resign.
US Pinoys for Good Governance President Atty. Rodel Rodis, a supporter of Aquino from the start, also voiced out the same opinion expressed by Fil-Ams who shared their views on Balitang America’s social media platforms.
When I interviewed him on Balitang America, Rodis concurred with House Speaker Belmonte’s opinion that Aquino’s lapse in judgment is not an impeachable offense. He said PNoy should not resign but should own up to his actions.
Like many Fil-Ams, Rodis also does not want Vice President Jejomar Binay to take over as president because of the many allegations of corruption raised against him. He opined that Aquino should finish his term and do all that he can to rectify his mistakes and institute many changes to help the country move forward.
When I asked him if any charges can be filed against Aquino after his term ends in 2016, Atty. Rodis said he does not think so. Otherwise, he said, no President would be able to make bold actions while performing duties as President and Commander-in-Chief for fear of litigation.
The results of the investigations by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Board of Inquiry (BOI) and the joint Senate committee looking into the January 25 Mamasapano massacre have even put the spotlight on PNoy’s culpability as President and Commander-in-Chief, and how his decisions and actions could have been responsible for the bloodbath.
These reports concluded that President Aquino is “ultimately responsible” for the tragedy, but pointed to the armed Moro rebels and other armed groups as the ones who “murdered and robbed the Philippine National Police Special Action Force Commandos.” This was because Aquino “bypassed the established PNP (Philippine National Police) Chain of Command” by dealing directly with suspended PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima and the relieved Special Action Force (SAF) chief Dir. Getulio Napeñas Jr., instead of with the officer-in-charge Deputy Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina. Even DILG Secretary Mar Roxas was kept out of the loop.
Committee Head Senator Grace Poe said in a news briefing that it is imperative that the President show leadership and accept responsibility for all decisions he has made.
“The President and other ranking officials could have done more under the circumstances to prevent or minimize the number of deaths that jolted the nation. Maaaring mayroon pa sana silang ginawa,” Poe said.
“Had the President and key security officials like Secretary Mar Roxas, Defense Secretary Volt Gazmin, PNP OIC chief Leonardo Espina and Armed Forces chief Gregorio Catapang discussed the incident and shared information clearly and openly in the early stages of the tragic day, coordination between the Army and the PNP might have been hasted and fewer lives could have been lost,” she said.
Poe said with these findings, it would now be up to Congress if it should file an impeachment case against PNoy.
However, it looks like the House leadership is not inclined to do that. As mentioned earlier, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, said he thinks there was a lapse in judgment on the part of the President, but believed it was far from an impeachable offense.
* * *
Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
