Coloma: Aquino was not charged in SAF 44 case

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. answers questions from the media in a press briefing on Malacanang Friday when he advised people to remain vigilant until the exit of Typhoon Yolanda from the Philippine area of responsibility. He also commended the people along the typhoon path for heeding the call of the government to evacuate and take the necessary precautions as the typhoon approached. (Photo by Robert Viñas/Rodolfo Manabat/Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — President Aquino was not among those charged in connection with the Mamasapano operation, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. yesterday clarified.

According to Coloma, this means that Aquino could not have been cleared of any wrongdoing, contrary to the ombudsman’s pronouncements.

“It is not the correct thing to say ‘he was cleared.’ He was not even included in the complaint so how can he be cleared if that was the case?” Coloma pointed out.

“Secondly, notional or theoretically, the allegations stated in the petition by analogy does not constitute impeachable offenses,” he told former senator and radio anchor Orly Mercado in his “All Ready” program in Radyo Singko.

Assistant Ombudsman and spokesman Asryman Rafanan however said that Aquino was included in the list of persons placed under investigation for the incident.

“But nonetheless, the office motu propio (on its own) looked into the allegations of the reports of the participation of the President,” he said in a Philippine Star report.

He added that “the special panel found that whatever participation the President may have had in the Mamasapano incident does not amount prima facie to a criminal offense, neither was his participation analogous to any of the impeachable offenses.”

Coloma, meanwhile said that the executive department respects the findings of the Office of the Ombudsman.