WATCH: Duterte slams Aquino for dependency on Purisima

MANILA, Philippines — In the second anniversary of the bloody Mamasapano clash, President Rodrigo Duterte criticized former President Benigno Aquino III for his actions during the encounter that claimed the lives of 44 commandos of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).

Duterte, while speaking before the families of the victims at Malacañan on Tuesday, said Aquino became too dependent on former PNP chief Alan Purisima despite being suspended by the Ombudsman.

“You were so dependent on Purisima for everything and you even forgive him for all of his sins,” the president said.

He said PNP officials admitted to him that they were taking orders from Purisima.

Duterte reopened the investigation into the death of the 44 SAF commandos in a covert mission in Maguindanao in 2015. He formed a commission consisting of justices from the Supreme Court and lawyers from the private sector.