Aquino gives no apology but asks for understanding over Mamasapano

MANILA, Philippines - In what could be his final speech on the Mamasapano tragedy, President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday appealed for public understanding over his shortcomings in the bungled operation but he came short of issuing an apology.

Speaking at the 36th Philippine National Police (PNP) Academy commencement exercises, Aquino reiterated that he failed to immediately help the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers killed in January 25 because he was fed with wrong information about their mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Aquino said he will not let government forces join a "suicide mission" but he insisted that he was convinced by police officials that the Mamasapano operation was well-planned and will be executed efficiently.

The president said he assumed that all of his orders will be followed and that there will be coordination with the military regarding the Mamasapano mission.

He also maintained that there was no sense of urgency from the updates he received through text messages during the day of the operation.

The president said this prevented him from responding immediately to the situation on the ground.

"Ang sa akin lang po, subukan din naman sana ninyong ilagay ang sarili niyo sa sitwasyon ko," he said. "Kung nalaman ko ito agad, sa tingin n'yo ba, hindi ako gagawa ng paraan para tulungan ang ating hanay?"

He said no other leader could have performed better with the kind of information he had while the operation was unfolding.

"Meron po kayang makakapagsabi nang totoo na kaya niyang higitan ang mga nagawa natin sa impormasyong tangan natin noong mga araw na iyon upang tugunan ang sitwasyong hindi man niya batid?" the President asked.

Aquino said he is saddened by the deaths of the 44 SAF troopers and that he bears responsibility for the outcome of the bungled operation.

"Ang magagawa ko na lamang, matapos masabi ang lahat ng dapat sabihin at magawa ng lahat ng dapat gawin, humingi po ng pang-unawa," Aquino said.

"Buong pagpapakumbaba kong hinihiling ang inyong pang-unawa," he added.

Aquino has been criticized for not acknowledging his possible mistakes in the Mamasapano operation and passing all the blame to relieved SAF commander Getulio Napeñas.

The PNP Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano incident found that Aquino broke the chain of command when he exercised his authority to deal with Napeñas in the execution of the operation.

The BOI said the president also broke the chain of command when he also dealt directly with his close friend, former PNP Director General Alan Purisima, who was then suspended over corruption allegations.

The Senate committees that investigated the Mamasapano incident also said in their report that Aquino is "ultimately responsible" for the outcome of the SAF mission.

The SAF operation was aimed at neutralizing Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and his Filipino cohort Basit Usman.

During the mission, the SAF troopers clashed with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups that led to the deaths of 44 SAF men, 18 rebels and five civilians.

The Mamasapano tragedy has placed the government's peace talks with the MILF in peril while Aquino's perceived ineptitude in handling the Mamasapano issue has pulled down his ratings to their lowest levels.