MANILA – President Benigno Aquino reiterated his culpability in the Mamasapano tragedy as he addressed the incident once again – and for the last time, apparently – during the PNPA Commencement Exercise where he served as keynote speaker.
“As President, I am fully responsible for any result—any triumph, any suffering, and any tragedy—that may be borne of our desire for lasting security and peace,” Aquino said.
The President has maintained time and again that his administration will continue to pursue the peace process but also asked the public for understanding where he’s coming from.
Before his speech, Aquino got a much-needed support from no less than the class valedictorian of the Lakandula Class of 2015, Police Cadet Dennis Yuson, Jr.
Even as he admitted that the bloody Mamasapano incident has tested their class’ morale, determination and intention to join the police force, Yuson affirmed that the deadly clash is not a deterrence for them to serve the country they’ve sworn to protect.
“Malapit man sa peligro, ay hindi takot ang mangingibabaw sa amin kundi ang pag-aalab na magsilbi sa bayan(Even if we are exposed to danger, it is not fear but our fervent desire to serve our nation that prevails in our hearts),” said Yuson, son of a Sultan Kudarat-based police officer.
“Ang trahedyang ito ay hindi hadlang sa hangaring makamit natin ang kapayapaan (This tragedy will not stop our yearning for peace),” he said, echoing the administration’s official stance to continue with the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) despite the unfortunate incident.
In his speech, President Aquino said he could go on and explain the importance of catching terrorists like Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was killed in the Mamasapano mission — or dwell on the problems and mistakes of that particular operation. However, he admitted that words will never suffice.
“Walang salitang sasapat upang maipaliwanag ang pagkamatay ng ating magigiting na pulis (No words will suffice to explain the deaths of our courageous policemen),” he stressed.
The President said he was saddened for not being able to air his side to the investigating bodies, the Senate and BOI, both of which released their respective reports on the incident and tried to air his side of the story to the young, newly commissioned police officers.
Despite the Mamasapano incident which inadvertently put the police in the spotlight, Aquino insisted that so much has changed in the way that government has treated its police. Now, he said, “there is high morale, accompanied by an extensive list of achievements.”
“We are continuing to meet whatever gaps in your requirements that we may come across. Our goal: to enhance even further your abilities to effectively “shoot, scoot, and communicate,” he said.
Aquino elaborated that the “transformation taking place in the PNP” is only part of the widespread change that is sweeping the Philippine society.
“I promised you change, and change is what we are reaping today. I have no plans of ceasing the pursuit of reform in my remaining year and three months in office,” he emphasized.
“Through our sustained trust in each other, and through the cooperation of each decent Filipino, we will ensure that the old system—in which a few take advantage of an anomalous situation, while the majority suffer—will never return.”