Palace backs homicide raps vs. Aquino, others

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. ( YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — Malacanang on Friday said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has made the right decision in filing homicide charges against former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and former police officials behind the botched Mamasapano police operation that claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.

“Sol-Gen as counsel of the government is correct. There ought to be accountability for those responsible for the SAF 44,” Roque told Palace reporters.

Last Thursday, Solicitor General Jose Calida and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Dante Jimenez filed a manifestation asking the Supreme Court (SC) to order the Office of the Ombudsman to file homicide charges against Aquino and former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr.

Calida and Jimenez wanted Aquino, Purisima and Napenas be charged with 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, based on faulty planning and execution of “Oplan Exodus” on Jan. 25, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Calida explained that Aquino has committed criminal negligence for allowing then suspended Purisima to get involved in the “Oplan Exodus.”

Napenas spearheaded the police operation supposedly based on orders of Purisima.

Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli Abdhir alias “Marwan” was killed in the operation but the shooting alerted the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas, resulting in an 11-hour firefight that killed 44 SAF troopers, 18 MILF fighters and 5 civilians.

The Solicitor General asked the SC to nullify the Ombudsman’s previous decision dismissing the reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide charges against Aquino, Purisima and Napenas.

Roque said last Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte has promised to uncover the truth behind the Mamasapano tragedy.

“President Rodrigo Duterte does not wish a repeat of such a waste of lives and promising future of gallant Filipinos,” Roque said in a press statement.

Duterte signed Proclamation No. 164 on Feb. 21, 2017, declaring January 25 as “Day of National Remember” for the 44 elite cops of the Philippine National Police. (PNA)