MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang refuses to answer questions on who apprised President Aquino about the Jan. 25 top secret Special Action Force (SAF) mission to arrest terrorist bomber Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that led to the slaughter of 44 police commandos.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said he could not answer the questions based on speculations.
“I can only answer questions that I have personal knowledge of,” he said in Filipino.
Coloma said it would be best to complete the whole picture first.
“Isn’t that the purpose of the hearings at the Senate and House of Representatives? Isn’t that the purpose also of the Board of Inquiry? Isn’t that part of the narration being completed – timelines, involvement of individuals, and so on?” Coloma said.
He reminded the public of Aquino’s speech on Feb. 6, in which the President declared, “I am the father of the nation, I am the commander-in-chief.”
Aquino did not avoid his ultimate responsibility and accountability because he is the leader of the nation, Coloma said.
Last Jan. 31, Aquino told SAF commandos at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig that he was informed early on Jan. 25, the day the commandos were killed, about the operation against Marwan.
At the House of Representatives, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and committee on peace, reconciliation and unity chairman Jim Hataman-Salliman said only truth could stem public outrage over the killing of the 44 police commandos and three civilians.
“Everyone is emotional about this. I, too, am angry, but the only way that our nation can rise out of this is for all of us to be sober and objective in pursuing truth and justice, and not lose sight of our goal of lasting peace,” Hataman-Salliman said.
He said the country’s leaders and civil society groups must not stoke anger, and instead contribute to promoting peace and understanding.
“If we junk the peace process, not only 44, but hundreds, including innocent civilians, will die,” he said.
Justice must be given to the victims as soon as possible, Hataman-Salliman said.
Gonzales said the House remains focused on the goal of peace through the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
It is expected to be amended and strengthened, he added.
The House ad hoc committee on the BBL has suspended indefinitely its deliberations on the BBL.
Benefits for families
Families of the slain and wounded SAF commandos are getting benefits from the Employee Compensation Commission (ECC).
Executive director Stella Banawis said the ECC recognizes the need to facilitate the immediate processing of benefits for qualified beneficiaries of the slain police commandos.
The wounded are entitled to a loss of income benefit – a cash compensation for the loss of income due to inability to work, she added.
Banawis said the ECC also approved a resolution directing the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to immediately process and release the corresponding disability benefits to the wounded and initial death benefits to qualified beneficiaries of the 44 slain men upon receipt of their names.
“The resolution shall take effect immediately after the GSIS formulates the necessary guidelines in carrying out its provision,” she said.
Banawis said commandos unable to work for a continuous period not exceeding 120 days will get temporary disability benefits, while permanent total disability will be granted to those unable to work for more than 240 days.
Permanent partial disability will be provided to those who had lost a body part, she said.
Wounded commandos are also entitled to medical reimbursement for the cost of medicine for illness or injury, as well as payment to providers of medical care, hospital care and surgical expenses.
Those who suffered permanent partial and permanent total disability shall receive care allowance as a supplement benefit.
Funeral benefits amounting to P20,000 will be given to qualified beneficiaries of those killed in the form of monthly pension, in addition to death benefits. – With Paolo Romero, Mayen Jaymalin