MANILA, Feb. 5 -- The Palace on Wednesday called for calm amid the furor over the death of 44 police commandos during an operation to arrest two suspected terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
“Ang kailangan po ng ating bayan sa kasalukuyan ay kahinahunan at pag-aaral ng mga usapin na kaharap natin. Isa po sa mga usapin ay hinggil sa patuloy na pakikipaglaban sa terorismo na siya namang misyon na ginampanan ng buong kabayanihan ng ating PNP-SAF (Philippine National Police Special Action Force). At isa rin po diyan ang ating paghahangad na makamit ang pangmatagalang pangkapayapaan sa Minadanao,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang.
Secretary Coloma enjoined every Filipino to study the issue calmly and face the challenges borne by the incident.
“Harapin po natin ang mga hamon na bunsod ng mga kaganapan noong nakaraang linggo na mayroong determinasyong magbagong-tatag at palakasin pa ang demokrasya at ang katatagan ng ating bansa,” he added.
He said inquiries are being made by the PNP, as well as the International Monitoring Team and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, and it is best to wait for the result of these investigations to understand what exactly occurred in Mamasapano.
“Sa takdang panahon, nahahanda namang magsalita muli ang Pangulo kapag nabuo na ang salaysay at nagampanan na ang mga mahahalagang dapat na gampanan ng (PNP) Board of Inquiry,” he said in response to a question if President Benigno S. Aquino III is again willing to address the public regarding the incident.
Asked for the Palace’s reaction to calls made by militant groups and some Church officials for the President to resign due to the incident, Coloma said the Chief Executive is determined to complete his term of office.
“Determinado si Pangulong Aquino na gampanan ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin na maglingkod sa bayan na may buong katapatan at tapusin ang kanyang paglilingkod hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang araw ng kanyang panunungkulan,” he said. (PCOO/PND (ag)