MANILA, Philippines - Saying it is the only honorable thing left to do, opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday called for the resignation of heads of intelligence agencies for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)'s attack on several provinces in Mindanao Monday.
Lacson, in an interview, said it was "clear" that there was a failure of intelligence that led to the MILF attack that killed several civilians.
"There's a failure of intelligence somewhere. So ano ang honorable thing to do pag may failure of intelligence? E di ang head ng intelligence, mag-resign (What is there to do if there is a failure of intelligence? The head of intelligence should resign)," he said.
He did not name names but the head of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, former head of the Presidential Security Group.
Prestoza, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1978, was linked to an alleged attempt to bring in former police colonel Cesar Mancao II to take part in a smear drive against Lacson.
Lacson also called for at least a suspension of the ceasefire agreement with the MILF, saying there had been too many violations already.
"I think government should consider suspending the ceasefire agreement with the MILF. Marami na masyadong violations. At ang nakataya ang buhay ng civilians pati mga sundalo (The government should consider suspending the ceasefire agreement with the MILF. There had been too many violations and the lives of civilians and soldiers are the first at stake)," he said.
He said Congress is likely to grant the military and police the supplemental budget they need, so long as they are transparent about how they will use the funds.
Lacson rejected the MILF's claims its "lost commands" are responsible for the attacks.
"That's always the case. For 30 years now pag may violation sa ceasefire, claim nila lost command, wala silang control, so bakit tayo nakikipagusap at nakikipag-MOA sa grupo na ang tauhan di nila kaya ma-control? So it's pointless. There's no point talking to them," he said.
On the other hand, Lacson voiced concerns the violence in Mindanao is similar to the circumstances leading to the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.
"Pag napabayaan ito it might escalate to something like that, pre-1972 condition," he said. - GMANews.TV