Bayan holds ‘People’s Hearing’ on Mamasapano incident

MANILA, Philippines - Umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) yesterday held a “People’s Hearing” on the botched Mamasapano operation that resulted in the death of 44 policemen amid growing calls for President Aquino to resign due to the incident.

Held at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila, the hearing served as a venue to share the result of a People’s Fact-Finding Mission about the Mamasapano incident and discuss the issues surrounding the bloody operation.

“Right now, it is becoming clearer that President Aquino knew of the results of the operation as early as 5 a.m. on Jan. 25. It is also becoming clearer that he was already made aware of the encounter very early in the morning, but it is not clear what actual actions he undertook to decisively put a stop to the fighting and extricate his men,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said.

“The hearing also seeks to shed light on US involvement in Mamasapano and the plight of the civilians caught in the armed encounter,” he added.

The panelists for the hearing include Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan, University of the Philippines professor Roland Simbulan and journalist Kenneth Guda. They answered questions from the audience during the open forum.

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) also criticized Aquino’s attempts to reach out to the families of the 44 slain policemen from the Special Action Force (SAF) and to the Philippine National Police and the military, saying his efforts would fail because he continues to lie about his responsibility for the botched operation.

Militant groups and the civil society are preparing more protest actions next week as the nation commemorates on Feb. 25 the anniversary of the first EDSA People Power revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship, according to Reyes.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the PNP is monitoring the situation, and reminded citizens that while they are free to express their opinion, they should not violate the law and must have the required permit to rally.

Cojuangco supports Binay

The President’s uncle, businessman Peping Cojuangco, and his wife former Tarlac governor Tingting Cojuangco, also support the call for the resignation of their nephew and the consequent assumption to power of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

In a media forum yesterday at the Holiday Inn hotel in Clark Freeport, Tingting admitted that her husband met last week with Binay to talk about the formation of an advisory council amid the growing call for Aquino to resign.

She stressed that if the President resigns, the provisions of the Constitution on succession should be followed and Binay would become president “whether the people like it nor not.”

A new Constitution could even be crafted after the President resigns, and the plan is for Binay to have an advisory council to be composed mostly of “young people,” she added.

But Binay’s spokesman for media affairs Joey Salgado maintained that the Vice President does not support the call for Aquino’s resignation.

“While he is the constitutionally mandated successor, the Vice President reiterates his opposition to the resignation of the President,” Salgado said in a text message to The STAR. – With Ding Cervantes, Mayen Jaymalin, Helen Flores, Cecille Suerte Felipe