Because Malacañang gave a rejoinder the other day.
Palace spokespersons stressed that : The President had already said (in an early speech, after he skipped the arrival honors) that he was responsible for the Mamasapano operation.
To be fair: Yes, he said something to the effect that “bilang ama ng bayan… dadalhin ko buong buhay ko ang nangyaring ito”, or some such statement (roughly, “i would carry with me throughout my life, with a heavy heart, the fact that many died in this operation…”).
Yes, he did say that.
In about three lines of his third prepared speech.
In contrast however, in ALL his other statements, messages, and speeches he blamed Napeñas (in a private meeting with legislators, he blamed Purisima).
About 80 per cent of the time, it was:
Napeñas, Napeñas, Napeñas,
and 10 per cent of the time:
Purisima.
If you want to be empirical about this, you could commission a couple of students to make a content- analysis, quantitative and qualitative, and pictograph the data for Malacañang’s appreciation. (Just give a mini-grant for the trouble of making a line-by-line analysis of all the nationwide televised addresses, dialogs, interviews, speeches.)
Or you could just examine the Pulse Asia poll where 8 out of 10 Filipinos said that they were not satisfied with PNoy’s explanation for the deadly and deathly Mamasapano operation.
Sure, the President could detail the operational mistakes of Purisima and Napeñas.
But the intent people are looking for, in words and in decisive action — a standard line of many world-class leaders who have the courage to own up to their decisions, is: “I take full responsibility for this…i take full responsibility ” (to begin and end every message he makes where he might detail the mistakes of his subordinates).
(my nephew is even more forthright when he corrects errors without being prodded by a Board of Inquiry: “My bad. Here it is.” ) That’s it, tapós, end of story.
dedicated to the heroes and martyrs born of the Mamasapano battlefield
Julian Makabayan by Lutgardo Labad (translation by blog admin with apologies.) (By this time, readers and viewers might have noticed that the site has a playlist that’s updated daily based on a countdown to events. We’re playing this song, Julian Makabayan by Lutgardo Labad —
dedicated here to all the people’s warriors who watered the Mamasapano battlefield with their blood, many of whom were sons of farmers and workers.)
(The lyricism of the song renders it difficult to translate without committing sacrilege, please accept my apologies)
Isinilang ka sa batis ng karalitaan you were born of the river of hunger and want Pinaghele ka sa awit ng bundok at parang slumbered with the lullaby of the hills and the flatland Duyan mo’y malamig na lupa you were cradled by the cold, dark earth Lupang pugad ng kahirapan you were nestled by the poverty of the dirt
Lumaki ka sa pag-inog ng tagtanim at tag-ani you grew up and rolled with the cycle of sow and reap Inaruga ka ng inang magsasaka you were loved by a mother who worked and tilled Kinalong ka ng amang dugo ang pinunla You were sheltered by a father who bled and seeded Sa dibdib ng lupa Sowed and nurtured the bosom of the earth
O Julian di ka malilimutan Julian, you will never be forgotten Pagkat ika’y anak ng bayan you are our son, the warrior of the motherland Buhay mo’y aming aawitan We sing this ode to your life and times Itatangi hanggang kamatayan We honor you till the end of time
Kalaro mo ang kapwa mo paslit na kasama you frolicked with children like yourself, children of the earth Na sa paglaki’y matutulad sa kanilang ama children who will inherit their parent’s debt Mababaon sa utang will be buried in their parent’s debt Sa panginoong mayayaman to the wealthy lords of the fief
Pilit mong inunawa ang abang kalagayan You struggled to learn why you were born poor Pilit mo itong pinagtiisan You struggled to work and endure Ngunit nang maglaon ikaw na rin ang sumigaw But when your bough broke you fought and screamed Saan nga bang kasukdulan When will too much abuse end Saan nga bang kasukdulan When will too much abuse end
O Julian di ka malilimutan Julian, you will never be forgotten Pagkat ika’y anak ng bayan you are our son, the warrior of the motherland Buhay mo’y aming aawitan We sing this ode to your life and times Itatangi hanggang kamatayan We honor you till the end of time
