(Eagle News) — Former President Benigno Aquino III has asked the Sandiganbayan to suspend all proceedings related to his Mamasapano case pending resolution of his motion to dismiss.
In a 3-page manifestation with motion filed before the fourth division on Monday, the lawyers of Aquino–who is supposed to be arraigned on February 15—argued such proceedings would only be “moot” if his “motion to quash amended information” was granted in the end.
Aquino also asked the Sandiganbayan for a five-day extension of the deadline for the submission of his pre-trial brief, arguing at the same time that filing such while his motion to quash was pending was “premature.”
The deadline for the pre-trial brief is supposed to be Monday.
“Due to the voluminous documents involved in the case, the undersigned needs more time to prepare the same,” the manifestation with motion read.
“This motion is filed solely for the foregoing reasons and is not intended for delay,” it added.
Aquino is facing one count of graft and one count of usurpation of authority in connection with the botched Mamasapano operation that led to the deaths of 44 members of the Special Action Force and several others in 2015.
Also facing the charges are former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and the SAF chief at that time, Getulio Napenas.
Both Purisima and Napenas have pending motions to quash before the anti-graft court.
