Noy confident truth will set him free

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Benigno Aquino III is ready to face the graft and usurpation charges filed against him before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the 2015 Mamasapano tragedy because “the truth is on our side.”

“Sa paglilitis, lalabas nang maliwanag at ganap ang katotohanan (In the trial, the truth will come out clearly and completely),” Aquino said in a post on his Facebook account yesterday.

On Friday, Aquino said in a press conference he is not going anywere and will answer the charges against him.

The Sandiganbayan found probable cause to put Aquino on trial and issue a warrant of arrest as well as a hold departure order against him. But the former president exercised his right to post bail, saying he need not wait for lawmakers to serve the warrant.

“We will face everything, I did not leave, I did not go to a hospital,” Aquino said, apparently referring to those who went abroad or were suddenly confined for illnesses as cases were filed against them in court.

“My only defense is the truth,” Aquino said, adding he was fortunate to have kept evidence to prove he was assured that the operation to neutralize two terrorists in Mamasapano was carefully planned.

He said then Special Action Force chief Getulio Napenas also assured him that the operation was properly coordinated with concerned authorities and that former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, who was suspended at the time, merely guided him on the nuisances of a PNP action.

Aquino held a point by point presentation of what happened from the planning of the operation until the 44 members of the SAF were killed in an encounter after one of the terrorists was neutralized and he was told there was no coordination done to provide assistance to them if problems would arise.

The former president also said he spoke several times with the families of the victims as he lamented they seemed to be being taken advantage of despite their grief.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV reiterated the cases against Aquino would set a bad precedent because all failed operations could be blamed on the president.

“His (Napenas’) plan was flawed and the SAF who were supposed to provide support to the troops did not come,” Trillanes said over dwIZ radio.

Based on the testimony of the Army sergeant who was supposed to guide the SAF troops into the conflict area, Trillanes noted that the elite forces of the police refused to proceed out of fear of being killed.         

Trillanes said that Aquino could not be held liable under the principle of command responsibility because the assumption there is that he was aware of the mistakes committed by the ground commander in the operation and he did nothing about it.

Trillanes also said that the case filed against Aquino was clearly politically-motivated, with the backing of the camp of former vice president Jejomar Binay.

He said the issue on Mamasapano was hyped while Binay was being investigated for corruption by the Aquino administration.

“It’s about time that the truth is brought out about this incident. The VACC (Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption) were with Binay before and now they are with Duterte. They are looking for ways to pin the blame on president Aquino as the head of the LP (Liberal Party),” Trillanes said.