Pambansang Isyu

Academe appeals to ‘Save Our Nation,’ calls for Aquino’s resignation


Teachers and students from public and private schools today launched a “Save Our Nation” movement calling on Pres. Benigno Aquino III to resign, calling the botched operation in Mamasapano as only the latest tragedy that shows the president’s incapacity to lead the nation. “He must resign because if he stays, he will also stay arrogant […]

Teachers and students from public and private schools launch a nationwide movement calling for President Aquino's resignation. Ilang-Ilang Quijano
Teachers and students from public and private schools launch a nationwide movement calling for President Aquino’s resignation. Ilang-Ilang Quijano

Teachers and students from public and private schools today launched a “Save Our Nation” movement calling on Pres. Benigno Aquino III to resign, calling the botched operation in Mamasapano as only the latest tragedy that shows the president’s incapacity to lead the nation.

“He must resign because if he stays, he will also stay arrogant and without any regard for the welfare of ordinary Filipinos,” said National Artist For Literature and UP Professor Emeritus Bienvenido Lumbera in Filipino.

In a press conference in Quezon City, the movement decried the suspension of congressional probes as part of the ongoing “cover-up” of Aquino and the US government’s direct involvement in the Mamasapano operation.

Fatal mistakes?

They said that Aquino’s mistakes–from the Luneta hostage crisis to the pork barrel scam to the Yolanda disaster–have proven to be “fatal.” “Actually, ‘mistake’ is an understatement. These are more of a series of tragedies that prove that Aquino really is in no capacity to lead the nation,” said Miko Pangalanan, spokesperson of Youth Act Now.

The movement has started nationwide efforts to collect signatures for Aquino’s resignation, and vowed to wear black armbands as a sign of protest.

Present at the launch were teachers and students from UP, Philippine Normal University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of the East, Ramon Magsaysay High School, Manila Science High School, Manuel Roxas High School, Taguig National High School, and representatives from Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Quezon City Public School Teachers Association, and Manila Public School Teachers Association.

US intervention, unconstitutional

ACT Teachers Rep. Rolando Tinio challenged the Department of Foreign Affairs to cite a legal basis for the US-PH joint combat operations in Mamasapano, saying that such is prohibited under the 1987 Constitution.

Youth Act Now spokesperson Miko Pangalanan: Aquino has no capacity to lead the nation. Ilang-Ilang Quijano
Youth Act Now spokesperson Miko Pangalanan: Aquino has no capacity to lead the nation. Ilang-Ilang Quijano

He also pointed out contradictory statements by Philippine officials and the US embassy. “(SAF chief Getulio) Napeñas said that he was the one who requested for US assistance in retrieving the bodies. But the US embassy said that the request came from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” he said.

Tinio also said that the AFP admitted to Congress that on 10 a.m. of January 25, they already had a helicopter on standby at Camp Siongco in Awang, Maguindanao. “So why was the US the first on the scene and not the AFP?” the lawmaker asked.

Prof. Roland Simbulan, a political scientist from UP Manila, said that Mamasapano was clearly a special operation by the US government, which Aquino knew about from the very beginning. “The US went directly to the president, and the president violated the chain of command by assigning it to suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima,” said Simbulan.

He also cautioned against the “terrorist” bogey being whipped up by the administration to justify the loss of lives. The issue, he said, was US direct military intervention, which actually puts the country in danger.

“In all the countries where the US has intervened militarily, the national government is weakened, and more ‘terrorist groups’ emerge. With our troops becoming ‘bounty hunters’ for the US, our enemies around the world increases,” said Simbulan.

He added that the Special Action Force troopers were used as “sacrificial lambs” by the US, and that this was allowed by Aquino himself. “I would not be suprised if there was indeed an order from the president to ‘stand down.’ The US forces brought the SAF to direct engagement, but did not do anything to save their lives when the operation went wrong,” he said.

Teachers say that Aquino has already committed seven "fatal mistakes" that should cost him the presidency. Ilang-Ilang Quijano
Teachers say that Aquino has already committed seven “fatal mistakes” that should cost him the presidency. Ilang-Ilang Quijano

Simbulan said that the Mamasapano incident should serve as an eye-opener for soldiers and police forces, most of whom in the rank-and-file come from poor families. “They should ask themselves, in their long years of service, whom do they really serve? Whose interests are they protecting?”

Atty. Greg Fabros of Centro Escolar University meanwhile said that it was time to “take back our sovereignty” by removing Aquino. He reminded the public on the president’s “treacherous” signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement last year, which practically re-establishes US military bases in the country.

‘Transition council’

Benjie Valbuena, ACT chairperson, said that a “transition council,” which will emerge from the people’s movement calling for Aquino’s resignation or ouster, should replace the president–and not just a single political personality–until elections can take place.

“The council must be made up of people with integrity, and represent different sectors of society,” he said.

“History has taught us that Filipinos, in times like these, can act as one to replace a leader they no longer deserve. Let us unite with our people by joining in these concerted actions. Save our nation, Aquino resign!” Lumbera meanwhile said.