Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II urged for objectivity in the handling of the issue on the Mamasapano encounter that claimed the lives of 44 members of the Special Action Force.
Instead of looking for personalities to blame, the senator encouraged his fellow lawmakers to address the institutional damage on the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines by crafting new laws and amending existing ones.
“May mga bago namang issues na lumabas pero ang pinakamahalaga dito, in aid of legislation, is ma-correct ‘yong mga institutional defects… Maging positibo ang approach natin dito, pagtulungan at huwag po nating gamitin ito para sa mga ibang motibo o layunin,” he said.
“Pareho naman ho ang misyon niyan, para magserve ng warrant, para sa katahimikan and order, labanan ‘yong mga talagang nanggugulo,” he pointed out, referring to the PNP and AFP.
The reopening of the hearing shed light on new details of the case, including the need to put an end to compartmentalization, according to Honasan.
“Nakuha natin na talagang kailangan putulin o pigilan na itong compartmentalization. Nakita rin natin na talagang kapos na kapos sa coordination. May mga basic na pagkukulang ‘yong magkabilang panig,” he said.
Honasan, a former military man, said that there should be collective responsibility and accountability, adding that “maraming factors pero ang puntiryahin natin ‘yong institutional damage. Huwag tayong maghanap ng sinong sisisihin, sinong paparusahan, sinong maaabswelto. Korte and magde-determine… It will not serve public interest kung publicly nagsisisihan, nagbabangayan.”
“Collective responsibility and accountability nating lahat ‘yan, lalung-lalo na ‘yong sa loob ng mga institusyon ng AFP and PNP dahil napabayaan ito, nakalimutan at ito ang resulta,” said the senator.
