The oldest member of the Upper House, former Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile has declared via national television that he has evidence in his possession that directly points to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III as the one on top of the Oplan Exodus, which led to the massacre of forty-four Special Action Forces officers and men in Mamasapano a year ago. Enrile is saying that the President did not take action to protect the SAF 44 when he could have saved them. Malacañan should be taking such threats seriously and not merely take the words of JPE nonchalantly. This is very serious. It can make or break the nation.
The veteran legislator is a brilliant lawyer. He was a Bar topnotcher, a former Law professor and has proven himself in the field of public service, as former Customs Commissioner, former Minister of Finance, and, of course, the longest standing minister and later, Secretary of the Department of National Defense. He was rumored to be the true architect of the Martial Law proclamation. Of course, in 1986, he turned against his President and started the EDSA Revolution along with then AFP Deputy Chief of staff, Fidel V Ramos, and then Lt Gringo Honasan.
Today, Senator Enrile stands accused of plunder along with fellow Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr, and Enrile aide Atty. Gigi Reyes, among others in the infamous DAP controversies masterminded allegedly by Janet Napoles. Enrile was able to convince the Supreme Court to allow him to put up a bail bond in huge amounts. He has been released but his co-accused remains denied bail. Enrile knows his marbles when it comes to the nuances of law and legal techniques and he got himself the best lawyer in the country, Estellito Mendoza, former Justice Secretary of President Marcos.
The threats of Senator Enrile would put President Aquino on the brink of being impeached in the last few months of his presidency. Enrile declared that he has the evidence to place the burden of guilt on the shoulders of the Commander-in-chief. If we believe Enrile, President Aquino knew every detail of the operations. He was directly controlling the movement of the troops allegedly. Secretary Mar Roxas was not put in the loop, General Espina who was the acting chief of the PNP was not informed. According to Enrile, the President was only talking to suspended PNP chief Alan L Purisima. And there are many other things he will allegedly unearth. He better have the goods or else, he will just ignite major backlash.
We believe that this is a very explosive situation, when the Senate investigation, if at all, would put the President in grave embarrassment. He would be made to appear as having lied to the Filipino people. He would be portrayed as having betrayed the trust of the nation, and his continuance in office may be seen to be no longer in the interest of the people. Such a scenario would make the President appear that he was not forthright. Such a scenario would entirely destroy the DAANG MATUWID image of this administration. This may mark the end of the Aquino magic.
Therefore, I submit that the Liberal Party that controls the coalition in both houses will do everything and anything to prevent the reopening of the Mamasapano probe. For it would be opening a Pandora's box, a can of worms and something that the government may no longer be able to contain, much less control. I don't think that Malacañan will take this sitting down. All the President's men and women shall marshal all defense mechanisms so as to prevent the Enrile scenario. But if the worse comes, then the Aquino government must prepare to fold up. This can trigger a massive outrage from the masses.
Whatever it is, our take on this is to allow the truth to come out and let the heavens fall if it should. The President has always projected himself as a man of honor and integrity. But if the evidence in the hands of Enrile points to the contrary, the people must know the real score. This is not just a matter of politics. This is a matter of the integrity of governance, the honesty of the Chief Executive and the trustworthiness of the father of the nation, the head of state and the head of government. We cannot go on living on the lies that our leaders feed us with. I keep my mind open but I strongly submit that Senator Enrile should be allowed to reveal his evidence. Or forever keep his peace. And he better be prepared with evidence, or else he will go down, shunned, shattered, and maligned as the creator of the greatest dud.