QUEZON City, Feb. 9, 2015—Enough with the blame game.
The Association of the Major Religious Superior of the Philippines (AMRSP) exhorts all parties concerned in the ongoing issue of the Mamasapano incident to exercise sobriety and prudence instead of pointing fingers at each other.
44 PNP-SAF members were killed in a bloody clash with MILF and BIFF elements on Jan. 25, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. (Photo: Joan Archimedes)
Fr. Dexter Toledo of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) stressed it is counterproductive for government officials, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) if they allow their emotions to take over when they are supposed to be exhausting all means to correct the wrong that had been done, one that had left 44 commandos of PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) dead.
“There are no perfect people. We all commit mistakes. What’s important is we admit the mistakes we have committed and find ways to correct them,” he explained.
In a recent interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas, Toledo, who serves as AMRSP executive secretary, enjoined each Filipino to be an “instrument of peace”, quoting Pope Francis and the saint he took his name from.
The Franciscan priest lamented how the Mamasapano massacre had to take place just a few weeks after the Holy Father’s successful apostolic visit to the country, when Filipinos were still on a “spiritual high” following the papal encounter.
“It’s important that we reflect on what the Holy Father said about not having the answers to all the difficult problems of this world. While he does not have a ready response, his mere presence is more than enough to mitigate the pain and suffering we experience,” he said.
According to Toledo, leaders should make an effort to show their people they are always with them, especially in times of crises. (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)
