MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Wednesday admitted that he considered resigning from the cabinet during the height of the controversy involving the Mamasapano clash.
Roxas, who was kept in the dark on the operation that targeted high-profile terrorists last January, said he was ready to quit as interior secretary but the president prevented him from doing so.
“That crossed my mind. I went to the president and told him that if you no longer have confidence in me, I can tender my resignation anytime,” Roxas told radio station dzMM.
“He said that (confidence) was not an issue so he did not accept (my resignation),” he added.
Roxas said many had asked him to resign but he decided to stay to help the families of the 44 slain police commandos.
“The truth is resigning is all about Mar. I was slighted so I will resign. But it was not about me. It was about the 44 who died,” the LP standard bearer said.
“This is not the time for political grandstanding and "papogi" (charm offensive). If I resign, what will I do it for? I decided to assist the bereaved families of the SAF 44,” he added.
A total of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members were killed in a lopsided clash against lawless groups and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.
SAF troopers entered the MILF bailiwick to arrest wanted terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino lieutenant Basit Usman.
Marwan was killed during the raid while Usman was killed in a separate gun battle last May.
The law enforcement operation, however, went awry as it sparked a fierce encounter that resulted in the death of 44 police commandos and 18 MILF members.
Controversy erupted after Roxas and then Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Leonardo Espina had admitted that they were not aware of the SAF’s plan to enter the MILF lair.
A PNP Board of Inquiry formed to probe the incident said President Aquino had violated the chain of command when he allowed then suspended police chief Alan Purisima to participate in the planning and execution of the operation.