MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III accepted the resignation of the Philippines’ national police chief on Friday, two weeks after a disastrous raid left 44 police commandos dead and put the country’s peace agreement with rebels in jeopardy.
Mr. Aquino has faced searing public criticism, including calls for his impeachment and resignation, since the raid, which the police say killed a top terrorism suspect. The dead police officers have been hailed as national heroes, and many Filipinos have criticized Mr. Aquino as not showing empathy and not taking responsibility for the officers’ deaths.
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“You are fighting the state, and we will run you over,” he added.
Several government investigations of the Jan. 25 operation have been started to determine why so many police officers died. The Philippine Senate is scheduled to hold hearings on the issue on Monday.
