MANILA, Philippines - Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello will step down as representative of the party-list after cutting ties with President Benigno Aquino III over his "brazen cover-up" on the Mamasapano incident.
"I am withdrawing support from the president because I can no longer support a president who is washing his hands of responsibility of a mission he planned and executed," Bello said in a statement.
During a prayer gathering at Malacañang on Monday, Aquino claimed that he was fed with wrong information about the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao which left 44 police commandos dead.
Aquino continued to blame relieved Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas for not coordinating with the military for the operation.
READ: Aquino: I was fooled on Mamasapano mission
Bello noted that Aquino's behavior was "a disgrace to the presidency."
"Now the president is engaging in a brazen cover-up of his responsibility and that of his trusted aide Purisima for the tragic SAF mission and placing all blame on the ground commander Napenas," Bello said on a Facebook post.
He also referred to Aquino as a man who "knows nothing of command responsibility and honor."
The lawmaker has expressed his intent to step down as representative of Akbayan but will remain with the party.
"As far as my future in Congress, I think our code of conduct as a party is that I cannot continue to represent an organization with which I have major policy disagreement such as on the question of support for the administration," Bello said.
On the other hand, the camp of Napeñas defended the sacked SAF chief, reiterating that he was just following orders from then suspended Police chief Alan Purisima who was relaying orders from Aquino.
RELATED: Napeñas camp: Aquino should answer for Purisima's actions