An administration solon said Malacañang can only blame the chief executive for the continued decline in his trust ratings which was mainly due to the mishandling of the Mamasapano incident from Day 1.
“The decrease in President Aquino’s trust ratings is mainly the result of his inconsistent statements on the Special Action Force [SAF] operation in Mamasapano, made worse by the chief executive’s failure to attend the slain SAF commandos’ arrival honors in Villamor Air Base,” Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian explained.
Gatchalian pointed out that the President’s lukewarm response on the issue of justice for the slain 44 SAF troopers also contributed to the public’s negative perception that led to the continued drop in his trust ratings as shown in the latest survey results of Pulse Asia and Social Weather Station.
Related news: Source of funding to reveal identities of those involved in SAF operation
“The delay in the search for the truth and the lack of vigor in pursuing justice for the SAF 44 have been seen and felt by the public. These, to me, are the main reasons for the President’s declining trust ratings,” the solon said.
Gatchalian believes that at this point, President Aquino can order the Department of Justice to immediately file the appropriate charges against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters or BIFF using the PNP-Board of Inquiry Report on the Mamasapano incident as basis.
The lawmaker said the BOI Report is based on sworn statements of witnesses and participants in the SAF operation carried out last Jan. 25 as well as solid pieces of evidence that will point to the fact that wounded SAF troopers who should be alive today were deliberately shot to death either by MILF or BIFF elements.
Other news: Where does the P29-B fund for staff affected by K to 12 go?
“If President Aquino wants to arrest his declining trust ratings, all he has to do is to direct Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to immediately file charges against the MILF and BIFF and in so doing, justice will be meted the SAF 44,” Gatchalian said.
He also said the President’s last chance to redeem himself in the Mamasapano debacle is to tell the whole truth in his last State of the Nation Address in July and to file criminal charges against the MILF and BIFF before the SONA. (R. Burgos)
