Trillanes: Groups are taking advantage of Mamasapano clash to oust President
Senators Juan Edgardo Angara (left) and Aquilino Pimentel III (extreme right) exchange views before the Senate passage on third and final reading of the bill postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections from Feb. 21, 2015 to the last Monday of October 2016. Also in photo are Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday said there are groups taking advantage of the tense situation following the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to oust President Benigno Aquino III.
“Merong nag-oorganisa. Nagmi-meeting na sila sa sequence of events na gagawin nila.
You can feel it moving. They are hoping that the sentiment of the people will lead to, let’s say, social upheaval,” Trillanes said at a news forum at the Senate.
He said the groups come from different sectors such as the Catholic Church, leftist organizations, and the political opposition.
“Merong nanggagatong na mga political forces diyan sa mga sama ng loob na ‘yan. In the coming days, may makikita na kayong placards uli,” he added.
“Let’s just say na marami tayong nakukuhang information ngayon at pinasa na sa security at intelligence community para sila ang mag-validate,” Trillanes said
Trillanes said the sentiments of the public are valid.
“Valid ‘yung sama ng loob. Kailangan lang idiin pa, gatungan pa. ‘Yun ang purpose ng mga grupong ito. Hindi pa humuhupa ang galit at lungkot sa mga nangyari kaya it’s totally understandable dahil sa perspective ng SAF people e humingi ng tulong ang kanilang tropa pero hindi dumating ang tulong,” he said.
The 44 SAF commandos were killed in an hours-long firefight on Jan. 25 with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The police officers were supposed to serve the warrants of arrest against Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan who is Malaysian and Filipino bomb-maker and Abu Sayyaf member Basit Usman.
In light of all these, Trillanes asked the public to be more discerning.
“Dapat makita ng tao na ginagatungan ang issue. Bakit mo paaalisin si PNoy (Aquino’s nickname)? Definitely may lapses, pero his heart is in the right place. Hindi siya magnanakaw. Itong gumagatong maaaring gusto nilang ma-divert ‘yung issue, mag-take advantage ng situation para makapwesto agad. Dapat maging discerning tayo,” he said. (MNS)