Opportunists warned: No politics in SAF 44 march

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang warned “opportunists” yesterday against using a rally for the 44 slain Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) commandos on Sunday to push for their anti-administration agenda or face the consequences under the country’s laws.

The “March for Justice for SAF 44” is led by the Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PNPAAAI), which set the guidelines to preserve the apolitical essence of the nationwide activity, ensure public safety, maintain order and sustain focus on the demand for justice for the SAF 44.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Palace joins the nation in remembering the heroism of the SAF 44 on the 40th day today since they were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

Coloma said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had also warned protesters not to go beyond the bounds of the law or they could be charged with illegal assembly and inciting to sedition that could lead to conspiracy to commit rebellion and coup d’etat or sedition.

De Lima said groups that would continue to exploit opportunities to call for people power and military support for a junta to force the President to step down would commit illegal acts and violate laws.

Coloma also said the military and the police would continue to ensure that the country’s peace and order would be preserved.

Coloma did not mention any names of individuals or groups who could be possibly taking advantage of the people’s anger due to the Mamasapano tragedy and said he had no information about Vice President Jejomar Binay being part of the opportunists or even the President’s uncle and aunt, former Tarlac representative Peping Cojuangco and his wife Tingting.

He also emphasized the advisory of the PNPAAAI that the rally on Sunday was not for political purposes.

According to Coloma, the government shares the desire to serve justice for the SAF 44 troopers but it is also important to be vigilant and to look out for groups who might take advantage of the families’ grief as well as the march to push for their own agenda.

Coloma said since the Mamasapano incident occurred, rumors about coup and destabilization moves had surfaced along with calls for the President to resign.

He hit some opportunistic groups that used the 29th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolution to lure people into joining a mass protest action against the Aquino government.

This was the reason why in his speech at the EDSA Shrine to celebrate the bloodless uprising of the Filipinos in 1986 last week, the President said the government was trying its best to preserve peace and order and he slammed those who were desperate to derail efforts to achieve this particularly in Mindanao, Coloma noted.

Coloma said Aquino was aware that such desperate acts would be more overt as the government drew nearer to making genuine peace and development a reality in the south.

The President stressed it would be good if criticisms would come with alternative solutions on how to achieve peace in Mindanao and that he could not help but suspect that critics were the ones who would benefit from chaos and violence as well as disunity and lack of trust among Filipinos.

Aquino said it would be easier to push for selfish agenda once trust had eroded among those pushing for peace, especially in Mindanao.