The ghost of the administration past is coming back to haunt
them.
The gruesome death of the Philippine National Police elite
Special Action Forces (SAF) in Mamasapano will go down in Philippine history as
the worst police operation that led to the death of 44 brave Filipino policemen.
Former President Benigno Aquino III has been charged of
usurpation of authority and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices
Act in connection with the deaths of 44 members of the Philippine National
Police's (PNP) Special Action Forces, known as the SAF 44, on Jan. 25, 2015. Co
accused, in that case is former SAF Commander Getulio Napeñas Jr. The Ombudsman
in November of last year filed charges against Aquino for allowing Purisima to
play a major role in the Mamasapano operation while under preventive
suspension.The former President posted a P40,000 bail to secure his provisional
liberty. *
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| Former President Benigno Aquino III, wearing a black armband during the offering of prayers for the 44 SAF members that was killed last January 25, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao |
The Office of the Solicitor General under the leadership of Jose Calida has asked the Dupreme Court to order
the Office of the Ombudsman to file 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting
in homicide charges against former President Benigno Aquino III and former
police officials over the bloody Mamasapano clash of 2015.
The operation which resulted to the death of over 60 individuals,
including the 44 members of the PNP’s elite SAF unit, the OSG filed a 45-page
manifestation asking the Ombudsman to reverse its earlier ruling that junked
the reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide case against Aquino,
former national police chief Alan Purisima and former SAF
director Getulio Napeñas.
It may be recalled that the Ombudsman dismissed the the
reckless imprudence complaint the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption filed
against Aquino. And instead charged the President for "acting, as such, in
conspiracy," with Purisima, then suspended as Philippine National Police
director general, in Oplan Exodus. And last November of 2017, the former
President was officially charged with graft and usurpation of authority charges
by the Ombudsman.
Solicitor General Jose Calida said that : "Respondents'
liability is grounded on the faulty planning and execution of Oplan Exodus.
This is regardless of the presence of the hostile forces in the battle ground.
What defines their error, therefore, is their inexcusable lack of
precaution." *
The SolGen also added that Aquino is liable for the deaths
of the 44 police officers as he had "full knowledge on the details of
Oplan Exodus" and, as commander-in-chief, "acted with inexcusable
negligence, which was the direct proximate cause in the massacre of SAF
44."
As for Purisima, the SolGen argued that he is accountable
for the deaths as he, too, was an active participant in the "flawed
planning and execution" of Oplan Exodus.
Napeñas should be held liable for reckless imprudence, as he
as he assumed full responsibility and liability of the effects of complying
with the orders of Purisima, who was then suspended., Calida said.
Report from PhilStar
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