‘IT’S UNFAIR’ | Death of SAF 44 should not be benchmark for Aquino administration, says Escudero

June 25, 2021 , 11:35 AM

(June 25, 2021) – The term of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III had its fair share of blunders, but Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero on Thursday said it’s not fair to view his administration solely by the Mamasapano incident.

Escudero maintained that no one intended for it to happen, as Aquino would never put Filipinos in harm’s way.

“I’d say unfair to say the least, to use that as the benchmark for his administration and as the seemingly bottomless pit of his administration,” said Escudero on One News’ The Chiefs. “I don’t think you can accuse anyone of actually planning it along those lines for it to be that way, and not caring enough, or not having done something if they knew the actual situation on the ground.”

Escudero added that Aquino, who was usually criticized for having a steely personality, felt remorse over the matter, as he felt that he could have done more as commander in chief.

“I think it’s unfair to say he lacked empathy. It’s more the fact that he felt bad about what happened,” said Escudero. “In fact, I had a two and a half conversation with President Aquino where he was explaining his side, and I was telling him you don’t have to tell me this but he said he wanted to get it out of his chest.”

One of the biggest controversies during Aquino’s leadership, 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police died in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao after botched operations against Islamist militants.

Aquino was heavily criticized for allegedly not embracing accountability over the incident. He was also slammed for not attending the arrival honors for the SAF 44 at Villamor Air Base, as he was seen attending the inauguration of a car plant instead.

The Malacañang defended Aquino’s decision, saying he was scheduled to visit the fallen soldiers on a different day, but the public continued to denounce him.

Some family members of the SAF 44 also got disenchanted with Aquino, blaming him for the loss of their loved ones. The Malacañang awarded P70 million in benefits and pensions to the families of the SAF 44. The Medal of Valor, meanwhile, was awarded to surviving SAF members Gednat Tabdi and Romeo Cempron.

Amid the criticisms over Aquino’s handling of the Mamasapano incident, Escudero said the late chief executive carried the burden with him even after he finished his term in 2016.

“I guess people saw it as absence or lack of empathy. I cannot blame them, but neither can they judge the person given that he is commander in chief of all armed services of the country. He is ultimately responsible for them. Parang siya yung tumatayong ama, at ‘yung mga sundalo’t pulis mga anak niya kaya naging mabigat ‘yun sa kaniya,” said Escudero.

(Kiko Demigillo/PM)

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