PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III admitted that seeing the Aviation Security Command (Avsecom) van used during the assassination of his father would only bring bad memories.
In a press briefing Wednesday, Aquino said he cannot stand to see the vehicle that was used in the killing of late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
"Looking at the van does not bring any good memories to me and, in fact, it might induce a lot of anger," he said.
The Avsecom van, which was used in transporting Ninoy's body from the airport to the hospital when he was assassinated in 1983, has been rotting at Philippine State College Aeronautics in Villamor Air base.
Aquino recalled that it was in the van where his father was shot again to make sure that he was dead.
"The justices of the Sandiganbayan suspected that his head was hit by the rifle of one of the people inside the van to ensure that he died," he said.
"After my father was shot and he was subsequently thrown into the van. While in the van, they proceeded to take a tour instead of bringing him directly to a first aid facility," he added.
"There has been testimony gathered that a general stopped the vehicle to ensure that my father was dead," he recalled further.
Setting aside hurts of the past, Aquino said he will not allow anger to hamper his dedication in work as President.
"I have to divorce the personal side from my public obligation," he said as his entire family prepares to commemorate his father's death anniversary on August 21.
He said he will visit the tomb of Ninoy at the Manila Memorial.
Aquino also revealed that some of his father's close friends and relatives will do a separate commemoration for the People Power icon. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)