Manila: Protesters began holding mini-rallies after a Philippine senate inquiry blamed President Benigno Aquino for breaking the chain of command and allowing a suspended police chief to launch an anti-terror operation in which 44 police officers died.

Aquino ordered suspended Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima to launch operation Oplan Exodus, a manhunt for wanted Malaysian bombmaker Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan. The encounter claimed the lives of five civilians and 18 Filipino-Muslim rebels in the south of the country on January 25.

“The president can only be held responsible through impeachment,” Senator Grace Poe, who released the senate report on Tuesday afternoon, said.

“He is ultimately responsible for the Mamasapano mission. The buck stops with him. If he can own up to it, I’m sure the people would be less confused,” Poe added.

The armed forces chief of staff, interior and defence secretaries were also not told about the campaign, the senate report said.

“The president was fully aware that Purisima was preventively suspended by the Ombudsman on 4 December, 2014; that PNP deputy Director-General Leonardo Espina was designated officer-in-charge of the PNP,” the report said.

The lack of coordination between the police and the military resulted in the 44 Police Special Action Force (SAF) officers a firefight with rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) group, which forged a pro-autonomy peace settlement with the government last year, and militants from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Justice for Islamic Mindanao (JIM).

The militants “murdered and robbed” the officers, the Senate report said.

MILF’s participation in targeting police commandos stopped lawmakers from reviewing a law that will legislate the Philippine government’s peace settlement signed with the group.

In response, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said, “It is up to the senate to act on its findings. Investigations were held for the Senate to find a remedial legislation [and prevent a similar incident from occurring again].”

“The people should now respond accordingly,” said Renato Reyes of Bayan, an advocacy group.

Purisima’s “usurpation of authority and official function” would result in the filing of an administrative complaint against him at the Ombudsman. Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Forces (SAF) head Director Getulio Napenas will also suffer the same fate.

An earlier PNP Board of Inquiry’s report also blamed Aquino for the incident.

His popularity rating went down from 59 per cent in November to 38 per cent in March, “his lowest since he became president in 2010,” said Pulse Asia in a survey of 1,200 respondents from March 1 to 7.