From GMA News (Feb 20): Activists hold ‘people's hearing’ on Mamasapano clash
Various activist groups on Friday held its own hearing on the January 25 Mamasapano clash that left 44 elite policemen dead.
But unlike the hearings in Congress, no concerned official attended the “people's hearing,” held at Plaza Miranda in Manila, although they were invited to the gathering, a report on “24 Oras” said.
Instead, the groups only played audio recordings of the testimonies of the police and military officials and other resource persons who attended past hearings.
The groups said unlike the executive sessions in the Senate, the “people's hearing” was open to the public.
According to Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes, the statements of the officials clearly showed that President Benigno Aquino III must be held liable for the Mamasapano incident.
“Alam ng pangulo ang nangyaring operasyon. Maaga pa lang alam niyang may bakbakang nagaganap pero wala siya kaagad na ginawang aksyon,” said Reyes in the report.
He also said that American forces were part of the operation — a violation of existing Philippine laws.
Officials have denied the participation of American forces in the operation, their their role was limited to medical assistance to the wounded personnel.
Groups that participated in the hearing were Gabriela, Anakpawis, PISTON, Kilusang Mayo Uno, and League of Filipino Students.
The groups said similar hearings will be held in the next few days.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/441598/news/nation/activists-hold-people-s-hearing-on-mamasapano-clash
Well, the "activist groups" (Gabriela, Anakpawis, PISTON, Kilusang Mayo Uno, and League of Filipino Students) that participated in the "people's hearing" are all known Communist Party of the Philippines political and sectoral front organizations. This a pure propaganda exercise and is the reason why no "concerned officials" attended the meeting.
ReplyDeleteThe propaganda goals are to fix the responsibility for the Mamasapano tragedy on President Aquino which will in turn support their demands for the President to step down. The false accusations concerning American participation in the clash is part of the CPP's ongoing disinformation effort to portray US actions as violations of Philippine sovereignty and the 1987 constitution and to pin the blame for the deaths of the SAF troopers on the Americans.