Can PNoy recover from the Mamasapano fiasco?

By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at Mar 08 2015 03:09 AM | Updated as of Mar 08 2015 10:22 PM

MANILA – Can President Benigno Aquino III still recover from the

Mamasapano fiasco? Political analyst Ramon Casiple believes the answer

is yes.

In an interview with dzMM on Saturday evening, Casiple said despite

Aquino's repeated denial of his direct involvement in the ground

operations that led to the deaths of 44 elite commandos, the public

seemed to have already formed a conclusion that he was responsible for

the debacle.

Casiple said the only way for Aquino to regain public trust is to admit his

real involvement in January 25 operation.

''May problema siya, kasi the public has already made a conclusion on

that eh. Kaya the more na mag-insist ang Malacañang na dalawang tao

lang ang involved, lalong may problema siya, even sa mga pro-Aquino,

hati na ngayon ang grupong yan,'' Casiple said.

Aquino has come under heavy public criticism for allegedly allowing then

suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima to be

involved in the execution of the operation to neutralize Malaysian bomb-

maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias ''Marwan''.

The supposed break in the chain of command is being blamed after

Purisima ordered Special Action Force (SAF) commander Getulio Napeñas

to employ the "time on target" principle in executing the operation. This

meant that the SAF would inform the military of the operation only on the
day of the execution.

The time on target execution allegedly caused the military not to send

timely and sufficient reinforcements to the besieged SAF commandos,

who were being fired upon by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)

fighters and other lawless groups from all directions.

Casiple believes the president can still regain the public's trust by

"starting from the truth."

''It's never too late. Mas madali kasi mag-explain kung mag-sisimula ka

sa totoo. Ang problema niyan, whether or not ano mang beryson ang

nilalabas ng Malacañang, ang bersyon na pinaniiwalan ng tao ngayon eh

kasama siya sa operasyon,'' he said.

''Kapag nagsabi ka kasing 'akin ang operation,' pinaninindigan mo na ang

pagka-presidente mo dyan… kasi technically, there's no other authority

other than the president who can mobilize a suspended chief PNP and

have the chief ng SAF sumunod sa isang suspended na chief PNP."

Aquino has said he was fed lies when he was told that military

reinforcements were already on their way on the morning of January 25

even though this was not the actual situation on the ground.

Casiple, however, there was already too much skepticism on the part of

the public for it to be assuaged.

''Ang problem eh ang skepticism sa nilalabas ng Malacañang so far eh

napaka-lakas. The issue will not die down,'' he said, noting that the

Mamasapano clash, apart from hurting the peace talks with the MILF, will

definitely play a big role in the 2016 presidential elections.

Casiple, nonetheless, believes Filipinos can still forgive the president

''Can he still be forgiven? We'll understand it. Iyung tiwala babalik. Kasi

hindi naman siya ang tactical commander sa field eh,'' he said.

PNoy behind bars?

Casiple believes that President Aquino cannot be held liable for the

Mamasapano clash, but he agrees that the arrival of charges regarding

the fiasco after the chief executive steps down is a cause for concern.

''Actually talagang malaking concern iyon. Every presidential election,

tinatanong ako ng embassy kung, ''Ano na?"

Casiple explained that the international community and investors are

always concerned about the sustainability of good programs of a

departing president.

He said the trend of former presidents being sent to jail can somehow be

attributed to the weak political party system in country. The last two

presidents of the country – Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

– were sent to jail for various charges that were fueled by political

interests.

Estrada was convicted of plunder but was granted pardon by Arroyo.

Arroyo, on the other hand, is currently under hospital arrest for plunder.

Anti-Aquino personalities have threatened to sue the president not only

for his involvement in the Mamasapano raid, but also for his alleged

misdeeds involving the Disbursement Acceleration Program.

''Unfortunately, we are a six-year government eh. Wala tayong malakas na

political party system which can basically negate ang ganyang sitwasyon,''

he said.

''Ang nangyari sa atin, kung sino ang president kanya ang programa,
including yung usapin ng prosecution. Kaya ang problema ng investors at

international community, iyung mga policy na magaganda ngayon, alam

nila 6 year lang ang shelf life niyan."