Roxas washed hands off Mamasapano, says Duterte

DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that fellow presidential aspirant Manuel “Mar” Roxas II tried to wash his hands off the Mamasapano incident in January last year.

Duterte’s scathing assessment of Roxas’ lack of sense of accountability came in the heels of Roxas after he called Duterte as "saling pusa" and "epal".

Roxas was in full knowledge about the Mamasapano operation but tried to hush up military officials, Duterte said, adding that these officials have lost trust on the former secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

"Ang military walang bilib sa iyo kasi nung nagkabukohan na, kinausap mo ang lahat. ‘Huwag mong isali ako diyan kasi tatakbo akong presidente.’ That is why early on, sinabi nila na hindi ka kasali. You were not a player sa Mamasapano. You were there all the time nung nagkabukohan na, because you are running for president ayaw mong masira. ‘Yan ang totoo," Duterte said.

Forty-four members of the Special Armed Forces (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were killed in that operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, to arrest international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

The SAF commandos were killed after a firefight ensued between them and fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the area. Several MILF members also lost their lives on that fateful day.

Duterte said the honorable move left for Roxas to do at that time was to resign as DILG secretary, which he did not.

"Kung ako, delicadeza nalang Mar, maski pinalabas nila na wala ka doon and there was a short circuit in the sense that you were ignored as secretary ang pinaka dapat mong ginawa out of delicadeza, resign," Duterte said.

The mayor is convinced that Roxas cannot handle the job of a president as the latter manifested many times as a Cabinet member that he loses control in times of crisis.

"Tanggapin mo nalang. Naintindihan ng mga Filipino na anak ka ng mayaman, that you are not used to sacrifices, you are always afraid to die. Hindi pwedeng presidente ganun, Mar," Duterte added.

He also advised Roxas to stop pretending to be someone he is not.

"Do not pretend to be somebody when you are not, you pretend to be rider sa motor when you are not, bagsak ka, tapos makikain ka diyan malapit sa basura magdala ka ng baon. Kasi yung baso inyo yun, bigas, inyo yun," Duterte added.

Duterte also denied Roxas' allegation that he is trying to get public attention with his statements.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng mapansin, kasi pinapansin na talaga ako ng tao. ‘Pag maipakita ko, exhibit ako ang Davao," he said.

He said that he has some achievements to tell people unlike Roxas who had been cabinet member for three administrations without any visible and significant achievement.

He cited the fact that while the long dry spell followed but a strong El Niño has been raging since last year, Roxas has only acted now when he is no longer a government official and is but a presidential candidate.

"In time when El Niño is rampaging around the countryside, yung mga daro (farm equipment) niya, pati ano, binigay niya during election time. What does that make of Roxas?" Duterte said.