Visayan bloc in Congress won’t back calls for PNoy's resignation

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines— The members of the Visayan bloc in the House of Representatives said they would not support the calls for the resignation of President Benigno “PNoy” Aquino III following the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao, which killed 44 members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.

The bloc, led by Negros Occidental 3rd district Representative Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, said in a manifesto that accountability and criminal liability should only fall on those who planned and implemented the operation to neutralize Marwan, a wanted international terrorist.

The bloc said they demand accountability for those who planned and implemented the debacle and the imposition of criminal liability for those responsible for the massacre.

"We honor the 'Fallen 44' who have shown extraordinary bravery and gallantry in the face of certain death. We are also in one with the nation’s sentiment and call for justice. However, we remain steadfast in our position that President Benigno Aquino should neither resign nor be impeached, because of the Mamasapano case,” the group said.

Change in administration should be "the farthest solution to what happened in Maguindano and should not be our response to our currently hurting nation," and Congress should focus instead on the investigation and thorough deliberations on what happened in the Mamasapano operations, the manifesto said.

“The probe should immediately identify those who should be accountable for what happened, ensure that perpetrators of the massacre suffer the full force of our penal laws, and develop remedies that would prevent another incident from happening in the future to the men in uniform who are only fulfilling their vows to promote peace and order in the country,” the bloc stated.

The bloc said that the Mamasapano incident should create unity and strong front among us Filipinos instead of discord. "We commiserate and empathize with the families of the 44 SAF members, who died during the said Mamasapano operation,” it added. — Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)