SC upholds junking of reckless imprudence raps vs Aquino over Mamasapano clash

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against former President Benigno Aquino III over the 2015 Mamasapano clash. 

In a media briefer released Tuesday, the SC Public Information Office announced that the SC en banc upheld the Ombudsman ruling that found no probable cause to charge Aquino, former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former PNP-Special Action Force commander Getulio Napeñas, Jr.

The court, voting 15-0, junked the petition for certiorari filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

“The court held that the Ombudsman did not commit grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in dismissing the complaints for 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide filed against private respondents,” the high court ruled.

The case stemmed from the January 25, 2015 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that resulted in the deaths of over 60 people, including 44 members of the SAF.

The operation, which was launched against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir—alias Marwan, turned bloody when members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups engaged SAF troopers as they were leaving the area.

A PNP board of inquiry formed to look into the Mamasapon operation found that it had suffered from poor planning as well as lack of coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as the MILF, with whom the government has ceasefire protocols.

The PNP board of inquiry also said that the inclusion of Purisima—on preventive suspension over a graft case—in the planning of the operation broke the police chain of command.

Last month, the Sandiganbayan granted the motion of the Office of the Ombudsman to withdraw graft and usurpation of authority cases filed against Aquino in relation to the Mamasapano clash.