MANILA, Philippines -A party-list solon on Wednesday said President Benigno Aquino III could only be held accountable for his participation in the Mamasapano incident if the people to pressure him to resign.
Reacting to the Senate committee report which found the President "ultimately accountable" for the Mamasapano operation, Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap said that it is next to impossible if an impeachment complaint will prosper in Congress.
Hicap noted that President Aquino still has effective influence over the Senate and the House of Representatives so pursuing an impeachment route would most likely lead to his acquittal.
"It would only mean that the only course that would hold President Aquino accountable is through the massive protests of the Filipino people across the country to pressure him to resign," Hicap said.
Earlier, the executive summary of the Joint Committee Report drafted by the the Senate committees on Public Order, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation and Finance, Sen. Grace Poe said that President Aquino is "ultimately responsible for the Mamasapano mission."
Poe said that it was the president who authorized then-suspended Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima, bypassed PNP officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina, and decided not to use the resources available to reinforce the Special Action Force troopers.
The party-list lawmaker also urged the people to support the efforts to push for the resumption of the House probe on the Mamasapano incident.