Palace: Aquino won't resign over Mamasapano fiasco

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Wednesday junked calls for President Benigno Aquino III to resign following the Mamasapano operation that killed 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF).

In a media interview, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the president remains committed to finish his term amid the resignation calls made by Catholic bishops and civil society groups.

"May sinumpuang tungkulin po ang Pangulo at nais po niyang matupad iyong kaniyang tungkulin at ginagampanan naman po niya ito sa pinakatapat at pinakamabuti na paraan at determinado po siyang akuin ang kanyang paglilingkod hanggang kahuli-hulihang araw ng kanyang termino," Coloma said.

Aquino, the commander-in-chief, has received flak for his alleged role in the botched SAF operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

In his televised address to the nation last week, Aquino admitted prior knowledge of the manhunt, but said the SAF chief had observed "very minimum compliance" with his directive for proper coordination.

On Monday, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago claimed that on the basis of command responsibility, Aquino may be made to face the International Criminal Court for the SAF operation.

But Coloma echoed Senate President Franklin Drilon's statement that command responsibility does not apply in the Mamasapano incident because arresting a fugitive is not a crime.

"Under the Rome Statute, command responsibility will apply if the superior, knowing his subordinates will commit a crime, fails to stop the commission of the crime, or knowing that his subordinates committed a crime, fails to punish them,” Coloma said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

"It's very clear that the SAF launched the operation not to commit a crime but to enforce the law," he added.

Read: Noy not liable - Palace