After 2 months, Aquino explains absence at SAF arrival honors

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday tried to justify his absence at the arrival honors for the Special Action Force commandos slain in Mamasapano, Maguindanao two months ago.

In his speech at the 36th commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Academy, Aquino said he wanted to give the families the space to grieve during the arrival honors on January 29.

After drawing flak for snubbing the event, Aquino said it was not his intention to appear insensitive or unsympathetic.

"Ikinalulungkot kong sa pagnanais kong bigyan ng espasyong magluksa ang mga makakakita, sa unang pagkakataon, ng nasawi nilang kaanak, ay may mga nag-isip na ako'y manhid at walang pakikiramay. Ang intensiyon ko noon ay makatulong sa paghilom," Aquino said.

The President also said that before meeting the families of the fallen SAF troopers, he wanted to know first the circumstances that lead to their death.

"Ang gusto ko po sana, kapag may nagtanong ng 'Ano ang nangyari? Bakit sila namatay? Ano na po ang mangyayari sa amin?' ay may dala na akong malinaw na sagot," Aquino said.

"Kung ang naging tugon ko sa mga katanungan ay “Hindi ko po alam,” paano ako makakatulong sa kanilang paghilom?" he added.

Instead of attending the arrival honors for 42 of the 44 fallen SAF members at the Villamor Air Base, Aquino graced the scheduled inauguration of the Mitsubishi Motors' plant in Santa Rosa City.

A Pulse Asia survey revealed last week that 79 percent of Filipinos disagree with the president's decision to snub the event in favor of the motor plant opening.

The same percentage also thinks that Aquino's explanation regarding the Mamasapano incident was not enough.

In his speech on Thursday, Aquino maintained that he was unable to immediately help the SAF troopers during the January 25 operation because he was fed with wrong information by police officials.

READ: Aquino gives no apology but asks for understanding over Mamasapano