Groups protest Ombudsman’s alleged Mamasapano clash ‘cover up’

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and families of the slain 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos on Wednesday protested the Ombudsman’s alleged cover-up of the Mamasapano incident.

The VACC and SAF 44’s kin were joined by militant groups Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (Bayan) and Citizens Crime Watch as they staged a rally in front of the Office of the Ombudsman two years after the bloody encounter. These groups questioned the Ombudsman’s move to exclude former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in the cases filed.

A day after the anniversary of the Mamasapano operation, the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutors (OSP) on Tuesday filed raps against former Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisma and former SAF Director Getulio Napeñas over usurpation of authority.

Protesters called on the Ombudsman to hasten the resolution of the case while the SAF 44 kin asked the Ombudsman to include all those responsible for the Mamasapano incident in the case. They also said the United States should also be held accountable.

Members of BAYAN, VACC & Citizens Crime Watch now at @OmbudsmanPh office to protest the alleged biased Mamasapano probe @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/S5OyHAeDLK

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) January 25, 2017

VACC legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said all evidence pointed that Aquino, then chief executive, was responsible for the encounter.

“Ang gusto namin multiple homicide, kasama si Aquino,” Jimenez.

VACC lawyer Ferdinand Topacio saying that all evidence points to Noynoy Aquino as responsible over Mamasapano incident @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/W9Vw8I1rU0

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) January 25, 2017

The protesters’ calls came after President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he wants to revive the probe on the Mamasapano incident which killed at least 60 people, which included the 44 SAF commandos and terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir also known as “Marwan”. He claimed that Purisima and Aquino hid from the public that the encounter was an operation of the United States' Central Intelligence Agency.

Families of SAF 44 w/ VACC & Bayan members calling on @OmbudsmanPh to hold Noynoy Aquino accountable on Mamasapano incident @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/elyCy2gIe0

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) January 25, 2017

VACC officials also threatened to file an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales if she does not act on the Mamasapano incident “promptly and judiciously.”

“Pinag-aaralan po ngayon ang possibility na mag-file kami ng impeachment laban sa Ombudsman ‘pag hindi sila magising-gising,” Jimenez said.

For her part, Morales said she ordered the OSP records officer to explain within a day why the Mamasapano charges were not filed right away. The Ombudsman said probable cause against Purisima and Napeñas were already established, however, the case reached Sandiganbayan only yesterday.

Morales said if Duterte would create a Truth Commission against the Ombudsman she would not be offended. — Rosette Adel with a report from The STAR/Elizabeth Marcelo