Palace backs SolGen's bid to charge Aquino, others with reckless imprudence over Mamasapano
In this file photo, then President Benigno Aquino III, wearing a black arm band, leaves the podium shortly after offering prayers for the police commandos killed in the January 25, 2015 Mamasapano mission. AP/Bullit Marquez
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday backed the government’s top lawyer’s move to seek tougher charges against former president Benigno Aquino III and two former police generals over the bloody Mamasapano clash in 2015.
In what was the biggest crisis of Aquino’s presidency, a predawn mission to arrest two al Qaeda-linked militants triggered a deadly encounter between police Special Action Force commandos and Moro fighters in Mamasapano that led to the death of 44 cops, 18 Moro fighters and several civilians.
The Office of the Solicitor General on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to order the Office of the Ombudsman to charge Aquino, former national police chief Alan Purisima, and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide.
“SolGen as counsel of the government is correct. There ought to be accountability for those responsible for the SAF 44 debacle,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Codenamed “Oplan Exodus,” the botched raid derailed a proposed Bangsamoro law, a product of peace talks between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that was designed to end decades of conflict.
In November last year, the Office of the Ombudsman officially filed graft and usurpation of authority charges against Aquino.
In his manifestation, Solicitor General Jose Calida argued that the “respondents' liability is grounded on the faulty planning and execution of Oplan Exodus.”
He added that Aquino is liable for the deaths of the 44 police officers as he had "full knowledge on the details of Oplan Exodus" and, as commander-in-chief, "acted with inexcusable negligence, which was the direct proximate cause in the massacre of SAF 44."
Meanwhile, Calida said that Purisima is accountable for the deaths as he, too, was an active participation in the "flawed planning and execution" of Oplan Exodus.
Napeñas should be indicted on reckless imprudence, according to Calida, as he assumed full responsibility and liability of the effects of complying with the orders of Purisima, who was then suspended.
READ: SolGen wants Aquino, others charged with reckless imprudence for Mamasapano
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