(Eagle News) — The Office of the Solicitor General on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reverse an Ombudsman resolution that junked the homicide charges filed against former President Benigno Aquino III and two others in connection with the botched Mamasapano operation in 2015.
In its 45-page manifestation, the OSG asked the SC to direct the anti-graft body to file the 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Aquino, former Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima and former Special Action Forces head Getulio Napenas again.
The OSG also asked the High Court to prevent the arraignment of Aquino, Napenas and Purisima–only for graft and usurpation of authority—slated on February 15, in the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division.
In seeking the reversal of the Ombudsman resolution, the OSG noted that there was probable cause against Aquino, Purisima and Napenas because there was “lack of precaution” on their part that led to the deaths of the 44 SAF troopers.
The OSG also argued that there was grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Ombudsman because it already essentially cleared the three of the reckless imprudence resulting in homicide charges filed against them when it downgraded those charges.
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption filed complaints of multiple homicide against Aquino and the two over the botched Mamasapano operation aimed at capturing Malaysian terrorist Zulfikli bin Hir.
The Ombudsman downgraded the charges in July last year. With a report from Moira Encina, Eagle News Service