Aquino: Attack me but truth will set us free

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III is committed to ferret out the truth behind the deadly Mamasapano incident and is unperturbed by the criticisms hurled against him, Malacañang said Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. shared some parts of the meeting between Aquino and leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday wherein they discussed the Mamasapano incident and its implications on the Bangsamoro peace process.

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During Monday's meeting, Coloma said one lawmaker expressed concern to Aquino that the public backlash following the Mamasapano incident will grow much worse.

But the president was unfazed, said Coloma.

"Wala namang sektor ng lipunan natin na talagang makokontento," Coloma quoted Aquino's response to the unnamed congressman. "Four and half years in this job, 'di pa ako nagsasalita, inaatake na ako."

"So attack me, but the truth will set us free," Coloma quoted Aquino as saying.

Coloma said that even if the president is now under attack following the Mamasapano incident, "he just takes it in stride while he goes through the painstaking process of knowing the entire truth."

The Palace official said the president's determination to find out the truth should not be questioned despite criticisms that it is taking him time to reveal his knowledge about the botched police operation.

Coloma said the process of ferreting out the truth takes time and Aquino is in no rush to get into the bottom of the Mamasapano encounter.

He said the president is first giving way to the Senate to complete its probe on the incident.

"He is deliberate, he is compulsive. He does not jump into conclusions. Inaalam niya muna dahil maselan na bagay ito. maapektuhan yung prosesong pangkapayapaan. Ayaw niyang magsalita ng kahit ano nang hindi siya sigurado tungkol sa relevant facts," Coloma said.

"Hindi naman niya pwedeng sabihin kaagad dahil hindi pa niya alam kaagad lahat. At kinailangang alamin niya iyon sa isang proseso na magiging ganap 'yung kanyang pagalam ng buong katotohanan," Coloma added.