Ombudsman files two criminal charges vs Aquino over Mamasapano

November 8, 2017

Two criminal cases were filed by the Office of the Ombudsman at the Sandiganbayan against former President Benigno Aquino III in connection with the 2015 botched Mamasapano anti-terrorism operations.

Aquino was charged of violating Section 3 (a) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Usurpation of Official Functions or Authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.

The case stemmed from Aquino’s decision to purportedly consult and allow then suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima to participate in the Oplan Exodus to neutralize internationally-wanted terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Ahmad Akmad Uson in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Part of the prosecution’s evidence includes exchanges of text messages between  Aquino and Purisima that were presented in the Senate inquiry on the bloody incident dubbed as the Mamasapano massacre.

On January 14 2015, nearly 400 police commandos from the Special Action Force unilaterally launched Oplan Exodus to serve warrants of  arrest against Marwan and Uson.

In the ensuing firefight with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that lasted for several hours, 44 SAF troopers died.

Prisima was suspended for entering into an alleged anomalous courier service deal during his stint in the PNP.

A total bail of P40,000 was recommended for the temporary liberty of Mr. Aquino or P30,000 for graft and P10,000 for usurpation of official functions or authority.

The filing stemmed from the June 2017 ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman junking the motion for reconsideration of Mr. Aquino finding probable cause for his indictment.

The Office of the Ombudsman had filed a case for the same issue against Purisima and  former Special Action Force (SAF) Director Getulio Napeñas.  DMS