Peace, justice for Fallen 44: Binay

Vice president calls for independent investigating body on Mamasapano clash last month

Families here in Cebu of two SAF members killed in the encounter with MILF, BIFF receive P20T from the Pag-ibig Fund Binay says Makati City under his son, Mayor Erwin Jejomar Binay Jr., to also give P100T each to the families of the Fallen 44

THE country needs peace so an all-out war against the Muslim rebels is out of the question, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“We are open to peace talks. But although we are against (an) all-out war, we want to ensure that justice will be served to victims of rebellion. We want peace with justice,” Binay said.

He said it’s President Benigno Aquino III’s prerogative to appear before the Senate or the House of Representatives to explain his role in the mission to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, where 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members were killed by the Moro Is- lamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

Cash assistance

Binay also handed yesterday P20,000 from the Home Mutual Development Fund, also known as the Pag-ibig Fund, to families of two SAF members who died during the encounter.

The cash benefits came from accumulated savings and dividends of the deceased in Pag-ibig, along with their death benefits.

Aside from the Pag-ibig benefits, Binay said the Makati City Government under his son, Mayor Erwin Jejomar Binay Jr., is giving P100,000 each to the families of the 44 SAF members who died and the 14 SAF members who were injured.

Binay said it would be appropriate for the government to create an “independent investigating body” to ferret out the truth on what happened last month.

“An independent body is more credible,” he said, adding that he was also a victim of a “grandstanding” Senate investigation that was based on unfounded accusations.

Higher rating

Meanwhile, the vice president said he is happy his trust rating jumped from 26 percent late last year to 37 percent in the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey.

“They (his political enemies) attacked me left and right, using the Senate, using the media and my trust rating (based on SWS survey) went down from 41 percent to 31 percent to 26 percent. But after they exposed all the unfounded accusations against me, my latest rating is 37 percent,” Binay said.

He said that as a leader in the latest survey, he is open to negotiations with other political parties, even with Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, head of the ruling Liberal Party.

On the other hand, Binay thanked acting Police Director Gen. Leonardo Espina for his courage in airing out his true sentiments regarding the issue and in support for his troops in upholding the rule of law.