MANILA, Philippines – So far, there has been no formal discussion in Malacañang on a possible apology by President Benigno Aquino III regarding the Mamasapano incident.

Almost two months since the bloody operation that led to the death of 67 including 44 elite cops, Malacañang said Aquino has already taken full responsibility for the incident – despite any sort of apology from the President himself.

On Wednesday, March 18, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said an apology “is something that we have yet to discuss with him.”

“We had discussions with him yesterday but none touching on the call for him to issue an apology over it. None so far,” she said.

Asked if the President had been advised to do so, Valte said that while the President receives a lot of advice, she is not privy to any of them.

“I can tell you that he seeks the opinion of many of those in his Cabinet, many of those outside, but I cannot tell you if there is one person who has actually said that, as advice to him. I am not privy to those things,” she said.

Former president Fidel V. Ramos is among those who said that a sincere apology from Aquino over the botched Mamasapano operation would have eased public outrage over the tragedy. (READ: Aquino apology: ‘What’s so difficult about that?’ – FVR)

Since the January 25 operation, there has been only one major Cabinet meeting on the incident, where Aquino told Cabinet members that  he was accepting the resignation of close friend police chief Director General Alan Purisima, who was involved in the operation even while suspended for graft charges. A possible apology was not discussed in that meeting either.

Taking responsibility vs apology

Asked how one would reconcile Aquino taking responsibility for the incident without issuing a formal apology, Valte encouraged the public “to take it from the point of view of the President that he was not given correct information at the time that it was necessary.”

“So moving forward, obviously, the President found out on his own that things on the ground were different. That’s what he’s saying, that there were things told to him that were wrong,” she said. 

Valte added, “I also would not begrudge him for the anger that he feels that he was not given the chance to take the right steps to address the situation on the ground.”

Valte emphasized that Aquino had admitted “he is responsible for what had befallen the SAF and that moving forward one, of his responsibilities would be to make sure that their deaths are not in vain and that the ones that they have left behind will be cared for.”

On whether Aquino has taken the blame for the Mamasapano tragedy even with the absence of an apology, Valte said “he has already said as much.”

She added, “So far, he has been focused on what can be done in the aftermath of the January 25 incident.”

Cases expected

On January 25, some 392 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos entered Mamasapano town, a known bailiwick of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), to arrest top terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir or Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman. 

The operation resulted in a bloody clash between SAF troopers and rebel forces that claimed at least 67 lives, including 44 SAF troopers. The MILF blamed this on the SAF team’s failure to coordinate with them, as provided in its ceasefire agreement with the government on operations in known MILF territories. 

Since the incident, various sectors, including some Catholic leaders, have called for the resignation of Aquino. They are frustrated by his handling of the incident.

Valte added that the President, as part of taking responsibility, expects to face cases when he steps down from office.

“With regards to facing investigations and cases, even before the January 25 incident the President has already been aware that he will be making decisions that may not please people,” she said, in response to questions.

She added: “He has made decisions that have, in his own words, upset the rice bowls of many; and that he is prepared and he expects that when he steps down, there may be cases that may be filed against him.”

Valte said however, that this “does not mean to say that these cases will prosper.”

“No one can stop anyone from filing a complaint or a case against anyone, not just the President. But it’s a different issue to say those complaints will prosper.” – Rappler.com