MANILA, Philippines - If President Aquino would continue with his quest to pin down the mastermind behind his father’s death, then he could use his personal experience as a motivation to put an end to injustices in the country, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said yesterday.
CBCP Public Affairs Committee chairman Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said since President Aquino knew how it felt to lose a love one, he could empathize with those who have gone through such an ordeal.
“He should look at this (Ninoy case) as an example and make sure that incidents of ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ do not happen again,” said Iñiguez.
Fr. Joe Dizon, lead convenor of Solidarity Philippines (SP), expressed hope that the President’s personal experience would push him to ensure that justice is served to the victims of various cases happening under his watch.
Aquino earlier said he is looking at the possibility of running after those who ordered the Aug. 21, 1983 assassination of his father.
This, after he learned that there are still key personalities who had not been investigated by the defunct Agrava fact-finding commission.
CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace chairman Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said he supports the plan of Aquino to re-open the case, saying all the killers should be brought to justice.
“If they can be identified, then justice must really be served. Finding out the truth would bring a certain closure,” said Iñiguez.
“The assassination of Ninoy was a crime against the nation and not only the Aquino family. P-Noy should be able to utilize his power of the presidency that he now holds to finally bring justice to his father,” said Dizon.
On Sunday, simultaneous commemoration rites were held in Tarlac in honor of the late senator.
Ninoy was gunned down at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport on Aug. 21, 1983 after he returned from a long exile in the US. – Ric Sapnu