(Photos by: Janine Perea)

Despite having positive ratings on his early terms, President Benigno Aquino III is now called for resignation by different organizations and church leaders saying that he should give the Filipino people a fresh start and a new government.

                With the recent clash between the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Font (MILF), the public questions the commanding ability of the president endangering the on-going peace process between the MILF and the government.    

        

                The mission, which was referred to as Oplan Exodus led to the deaths of 44 SAF officers and the death of one of the FBI’s most wanted terrorist, Zulkifli Abdhir, dubbing the incident as the biggest loss of the government elite force in the Philippines.

                “Bilang Commander-In-Chief-, hindi pwedeng mag-blame ng lower officials kasi yung chain of commands ay sa kanya naka-direct. Nagkasala siya sa Fallen 44 not by commission but by omission kasi hindi niya nagampanan yung role niya,” Jenina Avancena, Editor-In-Chief of The Flame, official publication of the Faculty of Arts and Letters said.

                Kabataan party-list Representative Terry Ridon emphasized that the president should not use resigned PNP Chief Director Allan Purisima as his ‘fall guy’ and that Purisima’s resignation is an admission of guilt over the clash.

                “Masyadong mataas ang tingin natin sa pamilya Aquino kaya natatakot tayong maghalal ng ibag opisyal. Na-set natin yung standards na kapag ‘Aquino’, magaling ‘to,” Avancena added.

            

                      On the other hand, University of Sto. Thomas (UST) Assistant Professor Jose Tolentino Olivar II stated that it has been embarked in the Filipino culture that whenever they wanted to oust a leader, Filipinos join hands for a revolution or do signature campaigns.

                “Kusang nagbibitiw ang isang leader sa ibang bansa. Kapag alam niyang hindi na siya karapat-dapat at hindi na niya nagampanan yung tungkulin niya,” Olivar emphasized.

                Olivar also said that Anti-Aquino groups should take into consideration the process of impeachment knowing that the election is already next year. He also stated that the public should just wait for the end of Aquino’s term.

                Another professor from UST under the Faculy of Philosophy, Marc Aldous Baccay said that the public serves as a critic which is a good thing for the leaders to know what they need to improve on their work.

                “Kelangang isipin yung consequences kapag na-impeach si PNoy. Between him and Vice President Jejomar Binay, our current president is more practical,” he stated.

Baccay also reiterated that asking for an official to step down every after crisis is not healthy for no official is considered perfect. He added that the circumstances that came in during Aquino’s term was not planned.

                “Nakaka-awa ang mga Pilipino kasi ang criteria lang ng kanilang pagboto ay ‘Who is the lesser evil?’. Wala bang ‘Who is the best?’” Baccay said.

                As for the upcoming election, the criterion for the next president, as pictured by Avancena and Olivar is that someone who is willing to point out the bad sides of politics and someone who the Filipino’s trust and fear.