By Moira Encina
Eagle News Service
The Supreme Court has ordered a halt to the arraignment of former President Benigno Aquino III and two others in connection with the botched Mamasapano operation in 2015.
In a three-page resolution signed by First Division Clerk of Court Edgar Aricheta, the SC effectively ruled in favor of the petition of the kin of Special Action Force commandos who died who wanted Aquino, former Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima and former SAF chief Getulio Napenas charged with 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, instead of graft and usurpation of authority.
The kin’s petition was supported by a manifestation filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida in January.
Calida had argued that the conduct of an arraignment for usurpation of authority and graft would mean that the filing of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide case against the three could no longer push through.
The SC’s first division also ordered a stop to the implementation of the Ombudsman resolution junking the reckless imprudence resulting in homicide case against the three.
Earlier, Aquino asked the Sandiganbayan to defer all proceedings in connection with the Mamasapano incident pending resolution of his motion to quash.
