Binay: Don’t approve BBL in haste

CEBU, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday said the approval of the Bangsamoro Basic Law should not be rushed just because a deadline is being set.

“The great sacrifice in lives of our 44 SAF heroes has pushed to front and center of public attention the constitutional defects of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, putting on hold its rushed congressional approval and bringing it to sober public scrutiny,” said Binay during the 15th Integrated Bar of the Philippines National Convention.

“I have said so before, let us not insist on a hasty and precipitate approval of the BBL. If it fails to pass in this administration, then let the next handle it and handle it firmly and well, with the Constitution and the welfare of the Filipino nation foremost in mind in 2016,” he said.

Valenzuela Representative Sherwin Gatchalian, a senatorial wannabe under the Binay slate, said that he filed a bill in Congress for the creation of a Truth Commission to consolidate all the findings of all eight investigations by different agencies.

“The different findings of the Mamasapano incident will create more confusion. That is why I proposed na dapat mayroon talagang Truth Commission. But the problem is, both the leadership in the Senate and Congress does not want it,” said Gatchalian in the same press conference with Binay.

LACSON

“A leader assumes responsibility, not for any reason, except it is the right thing to do.”

Former Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who was made to speak about the Mamasapano mission before thousands of lawyers during the national convention held at Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Cebu City, was referring to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

“I cannot really understand why our administration, President (Benigno) Aquino ay parang hirap na hirap na mag-assume ng responsibility when in fact, when you assume responsibility, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are owning to some kind of criminal liability,” said Lacson.

Lacson, who was former director general of the Philippine National Police, stressed that responsibility and liability are two different matters.

“There are so many ways of assuming responsibility, (such as) you follow it up by saying sorry, offer an apology, or you just simply say I assume responsibility,” he said.

According to Lacson, taking responsibility is something that a leader cannot delegate to his subordinates.

“Hindi puwedeng ipasa eh, kaya ka nahalal na pangulo, kaya ka naging chief ng PNP, kaya ka naging commander. Iyong responsibility nandun iyon, bitbit iyan sa balikat mo,” he explained.

Lacson said it is not too late for the president to assume responsibility for the Mamasapano operation, which he said was already doomed from its planning stage up to its execution.

The former senator cited the “unrealistic planning assumptions” of Police Director Getulio Napeñas, the overall tactical commander of the SAF troopers, the absence of an “abort-criteria” contingency provision of OPLAN Exodus, and the use of time-on-target concept of coordination which does not apply to large-scale warfare.

The January 25 botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao resulted to the death of 60 people, including 44 SAF troopers, two of whom hailed from Cebu. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and May B. Miasco/NSA (FREEMAN)