Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

Senators reject calls for President Aquino resignation

Posted on February 4, 2015

By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA, Feb. 4 (PNA) — Senators have turned down calls for the resignation of President Benigno Aquino III over the death of the 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) members in an encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) elements on January 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

”I will not even dignify that with an answer,” Senate President Franklin Drilon replied when asked by media for comment to calls from some some sectors for President Aquino to step down.

Senator Teofisto Guingona III strongly opposed the resignation calls, expressing confidence that the President can handle the situation.

”No. I’m not for that (resignation). I still believe in the President and I believe he will do the right thing in this matter,” Guingona said.

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he is not also supportive of the call but advised the President to “be more transparent in handling the situation.”

Opposition Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito also rejected the calls, saying resignation would only worsen the divisiveness and create political instability.

”Even if I come from the opposition, I do not think President Aquino resigning or even removing him from office right now will not be good for the nation,” Ejercito said in a text message to the media.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero also opposed to the resign calls, saying “in fact, we don’t even know yet what really happened.”

For her part, Senator Grace Poe believed that the President will listen to the sentiments of the people.

Poe, however, proposed that the President should appoint a new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

”For me, I would definitely want that the President appoint somebody because there’s also been a confusion as to who is the leader,” she said.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima is currently serving a six-month preventive suspension slapped on him last December by the Office of the Ombudsman over an alleged questionable contract.

Despite the suspension, Purisima was reportedly involved in the operation to arrest international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

”I feel that the PNP doesn’t have a shortage of capable men who would be able to take his place. So I still maintain that I think we would be in a better position to give a chance to another individual who might be able to command more confidence and respect among the PNP,” Poe said. (PNA)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme