Alejano: PNoy should have taken responsibility for Mamasapano tragedy

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Updated February 25, 2019, 11:44 AM

By Raymund Antonio

Opposition senatorial candidate Gary Alejano said former President

Benigno Aquino III should have taken responsibility for the Mamasapano

massacre in 2015.

Opposition senatorial candidate Gary Alejano

(Rio Deluvio / MANILA BULLETIN)

Alejano, who is running under the “Otso Diretso” slate, had a different

take on Aquino’s liability over the death of 44 members of the Philippine

National Police-Special Action Force.

“May kulang (It was lacking),” he said when asked if Aquino had done the

right thing after the Mamasapano tragedy.

The former mutineer-turned-congressman explained that Aquino should

have taken responsibility for the tragic incident as the “father of the

nation.”

Alejano was among the eight senatorial candidates featured during last

Sunday’s ”Harapan 2019: The ABS-CBN Senatorial Town Hall Debate,”

which was supported by Manila Bulletin.

His position on the issue was different from that of former solicitor

general Florin Hilbay, his fellow opposition bet in Otso Diretso, who

defended the former president on the Mamasapano controversy during

the “Fast Talk” segment of the first debate.

Asked if Aquino should be held responsible for the botched operation,

Alejano said the matter should be left to the court.

The 44 elite policemen were killed on January 25, 2015 during a

counterterrorism operation launched by the PNP on orders of Aquino.

Meanwhile, former Quezon representative Erin Tañada said the court

should be the one to decide on Aquino’s liability for the implementation of

the dengue vaccination program under his term.

“Iniimbistigahan ng Department of justice. Hayaan po natin magdesisyon

sila,” Tañada said, referring to the Dengvaxia controversy during the

televised debate.

(It is under investigation of the Department of Justice. Let us allow them

to decide on the matter.)