‘Ouster moves vs Noy unlikely to succeed’

MANILA, Philippines - Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said yesterday it was unlikely that moves to oust President Aquino over his mishandling of the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that led to the deaths of 44 police commandos and three civilians would succeed.

Romualdez said Filipinos’ anger over Aquino’s actions since the carnage of Jan. 25 and previous controversies have boiled over but they opted to wait it out until he steps down from office in June next year.

“I always follow the Constitution. If he feels incapacitated or not ready – we always want to follow the constitutional processes. And I think it is still best for the country (that) he finish his term,” Romualdez said.

He said impeachment will not work either as the process will overtake itself as the presidential elections are just months away.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, a member of the bloc, said he sees Aquino not being ousted despite mounting calls for him to resign “simply because election is just around the corner.”

The lawmakers lamented Malacañang’s effort to muddle the issue and protect Aquino.

“Obviously he has something to do with the operation. That is undeniable,” Atienza said.

They, however, expressed fear that similar tragedies may occur before Aquino steps down from office based on the way he runs things or manages crises.

“We all know that this is not the first incident. Many tragedies have happened in the past four years, there were many botched operations,” Romualdez said.

“If things are run the way they are now, the Mamasapano incident will not be the last,” he added.

Mounting calls for resignation

Meanwhile, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera led teacher and student groups yesterday in calling for the resignation of President Aquino over the fatal Mamasapano clash.

“Aquino should resign from his position due to his participation in the attempt to cover up US involvement in the Mamasapano operation,” Lumbera said during the launch of the Save Our Nation: Aquino Resign (SONAR) Movement in Quezon City.

“He will only remain arrogant if we allow him to remain in power,” he said.

Educators from different universities across the country, as well as numerous student and youth groups, are part of the movement which calls on Filipinos to unite and collectively act to save the country’s future from further death, destruction and disaster caused by the President.

“Due to his deliberate choice to break the chain of command, unilaterally violate the ceasefire agreement with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and betray public trust by secretly conniving with the US, the Mamasapano incident claimed 44 PNP-SAF men, 18 MILF fighters and 7 innocent civilians,” said SONAR spokesperson Cleve Arguelles. – With Janvic Mateo, Rhodina Villanueva