Ninoy to Face Trial for Mamasapano

Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.

Manila, Philippines, 21 Shawwal 1438/15 July 2017 (MINA) – Former president Benigno Aquino III will face trial before the Sandiganbayan or special court for the death of more than 60 people, including 44 police commandos, in the January 2015 Mamasapano raid, Philstar reported.

In a 35-page consolidated resolution released Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Aquino in court with usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Section 3 (a) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Aquino was found liable for allowing director general Alan Purisima, who was suspended at the time as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) due to a graft case, to play a “major role” in the raid.

Purisima and former PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) director Getulio Napeñas Jr. were ordered indicted together with Aquino.

The deaths of the so-called SAF 44 sparked public outrage and set back the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The trapped police commandos waited for reinforcement that never came.

Purisima and Napeñas are facing separate cases of graft and usurpation of authority before the Sandiganbayan also in connection with the Mamasapano operation.

The resolution, approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on July 1, resolved three separate complaints filed by the families of the slain SAF troopers in July and August last year, shortly after Aquino was stripped of immunity from suit following the end of his term. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)