MANILA, Philippines - When will President Benigno Aquino III appear in public again and talk about the Mamasapano debacle?
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Malacañang said Aquino will decide in due time on whether he would face the public and explain his role in the Mamasapano operation.
"Wala naman pong pahayag na ayaw na niyang magsalita o isinasara na niya ito. Nandoon pa rin ‘yung paniniwala doon sa prinsipyo na dapat malaman ang ganap na katotohanan," said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
Coloma downplayed Aquino's perceived public disappearance amid calls for him to resign and rumors of a destabilization plot against the government following the January 25 Mamapsano incident.
He insisted that Aquino is not hiding from the public, explaining that his recent activities only happened to be set in Malacañang.
These include Aquino's two televised national address on the Mamasapano tragedy, the state visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the recent National Economic Development Authority Board meeting.
Coloma said Aquino's lack of recent public engagements should not mean that he's trying to escape the public eye.
"Lahat naman ng kanyang ginagawa ay para sa kapakanan ng lahat ng Pilipino. Sinasabi ba natin na kinakailangan ay hindi sa Malacañang gagawin ‘yon para maging kapaki-pakinabang?" Coloma said.
"Parang masyado naman yatang naiiba ‘yung frame of reference just because hindi ginanap sa labas ng Malacañang samantalang ito naman talaga ang official office at residence ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas," he added.
Coloma denied that Aquino's perceived public disappearance is due to the rumored brewing military plan to overthrow the government.
"Walang kinalaman, walang batayan, at walang katotohanan," he said.