MANILA, PIA- Malacañang said it believes that once the truth regarding the bloody Mamasapano clash is brought to light, the country’s wounds would start to heal, and that overcoming the challenges created by the tragedy would make the country stronger.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. was asked to comment on the mounting calls from different sectors for the resignation of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Coloma explained that in a healthy democracy, it is normal for people to have varying opinions on the incident and the government does not have the monopoly of opinions regarding the issue.
He said the anger being vented on the government as a result of the incident as well as the people’s lack of patience is understandable.
“Pero nananalig naman tayo na kapag naisiwalat na ang buong katotohanan at kapag nabatid na ng buong bansa kung ano talaga ang nangyari at naunawaan na kung paano naganap ang mga naganap doon, ay magkakaroon naman ng healing process,” he said.
“Mauunawaan natin at magkakaroon din tayo ng determinasyon na magbagong-tatag at isulong ang ating bansa sa harap nitong mga hamong ito, dahil lahat naman ng bansa ay humaharap sa mga kahalintulad na hamon.”
How the Philippines would overcome these challenges at this very difficult juncture will be a litmus test for the country’s strength as a nation, he said.
Asked if the President would give inputs in the ongoing inquiry on the Mamasapano incident, Coloma said the President, in his previous speeches, had assured that he is after the truth.
Once the truth is uncovered, the country could move on to serving justice to the families of the slain police commandos, he said.
Coloma further said that the surrender of the firearms seized from the dead policemen is a sign of goodwill on the part of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front but a lot of things remain to be done to restore confidence in the MILF.
President Aquino has said that the MILF must not hamper government operations to capture Abdul Basit Usman, one of the targets of the January 25 police raid in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
The President also wants the MILF to assist the government in the identification and prosecution of individuals involved in the clash and the return of all the personal belongings taken from the slain commandos.
The encounter in Mamasapano left 44 members of the police’s Special Action Force dead, raising fears that the incident would derail the ongoing peace process between the government and the MILF. (PCOO/PND(as)
