Is Malacañang afraid of Truth Commission?

Ed Javier / Where I stand

The proposed creation of an independent Truth Commission on the Mamasapano massacre is dead, very dead. Just like the ‘Fallen 44’ of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force.

There are several indications that the Truth Commission will not be created.

First, no hearing has been held for the passage of the bill. As of this writing, Sen. Bam Aquino, co-author of the Senate bill proposing the formation of such a body, has admitted that the bill’s ratification would be highly improbable.

We seldom hear from Senator Aquino and when he does open his mouth, it is to signify his surrender in passing one vital piece of legislation. What a far cry from his uncle, the late former Sen. Ninoy Aquino!

Second, our sources in the House of Representatives say its powerful leadership has already put its foot down. In fact, Congress has suspended its hearing on the Mamasapano controversy.

Third, the original proponent of the creation of a Truth Commission, Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, had already called for the exoneration of the President from any, and all, guilt arising from the death of the 44 SAF commandos.

In his opening statement at the first Senate hearing, the Liberal Party stalwart intoned, “There is no reason for the President to step down,” practically absolving the President of any accountability in the aftermath of the Mamasapano massacre.

This is to be expected. Partymates are supposed to assure the boss’ s political survival. A clear link between the botched operation and the Palace can only spell political death for the incumbent.

It is clear that the proposed creation of a Truth Commission does not have the support of the Senate and the House, which are both controlled by Malacañang.

Is Malacañang afraid that the fact-finding would lead all the way to the Commander-in-Chief?

As I see it, there is no way the Palace would want a Truth Commission to investigate what really happened in the Mamasapano clash, which has dealt the Aquino administration its biggest black eye. The worst thing that could happen to the President is to be summoned by such a body consisting of independent-minded statesmen who owe him no political debt.

But even without a Truth Commission, the search for truth and justice—or the effort to hide or cloud it—has already become an extremely difficult task. The Palace PR strategy is evident: insulate the President from the brutal death of the Fallen 44.

Malacañang spin doctors want to pin the blame on three things: the lack of coordination between the Armed Forces and the SAF, the failure of the AFP to provide reinforcement to the SAF men trapped in the cornfields of Mamasapano, and the misguided actions of Police Director Getulio Napeñas, the SAF chief

The ploy is clear: the President must be shielded from the accusation that he had complete knowledge of the operation, and that he was never in a position to give clear instructions to have the SAF men rescued using the full resources and arsenal of the military and police.

In the Senate hearings, there were obvious attempts by resource persons to give credence to the view that the President knew of the debacle only in the afternoon of that fateful day of January 25.

Unfortunately, an earlier video released to social media by Radio-Television Malacañang (RTVM) itself showed the President admitting before the formation of sullen SAF officers that he knew about the debacle very early in the morning of that day.

Thus, it is very hard to believe that there is no massive cover-up being foisted on a skeptical public. Meantime, we may have to live with the fact that the proposed Commission is dead.

We just hope that the truth itself is not.