Apologize to Filipinos for Mamasapano, Palma asks P-Noy

GREAT persons know how to say sorry.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said this as he called on President Benigno Aquino III to apologize over the bungled operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that killed at least 67 people.

Responding to queries from reporters, Palma said the president should not have any reservations about apologizing to the public.

“I leave that to him (whether he will apologize or not). But if he is aware of his faults, he should have no qualms to say sorry,” said the 65-year-old prelate after presiding over the Mass and renewal of priestly vows at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral last Tuesday.

President Benigno Aquino III is expected to discuss the Mamasapano tragedy in a speech he will deliver during the commencement ceremonies of the Philippine National Police Academy scheduled today.

Misdeeds

“Even Pope Francis knows to admit his faults as he always says, ‘Please pray for me, a sinner.’ Even saints, no matter  how holy they are, never fail to confess that they too committed sins one way or another,” he added.

During the Mass, Palma also apologized for misdeeds committed by some priests.

Palma said on many occasions he and members of the clergy failed to live up to the ideals expected of them.

Despite their sinfulness, Palma said God has chosen them to guide the people as servant-leaders and sanctifiers.

“One should not be ashamed of saying sorry if he or she believes he or she has done something wrong,” he said.

Sincere

“All I hope is that the president is really sincere in his claim that he’s innocent. That thing I could not judge,” he added.

Palma said government leaders should learn something from the Mamasapano tragedy so it  won’t be repeated in the future.

The Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry (BOI) and the Senate, which conducted a fact-finding probe on the incident, found Aquino responsible for the bloodbath in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The BOI report earlier revealed that the chain of command of the PNP was violated after the President, suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima and Special Action Force commander Getulio Napeñas deliberately failed to inform the PNP OIC about the Mamasapano mission by keeping the information to themselves.

Malacañang has rejected the police findings, saying the president was not part of a civilian agency chain of command and he had no responsibility for the botched mission.

The widows of the Fallen 44 as well as former president Fidel Ramos were among those who called for President Aquino to apologize for the Mamasapano incident.