Sandigan defers Aquino arraignment

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan, in compliance with a Supreme Court order, has deferred proceedings on the graft and usurpation cases against former president Benigno Aquino III and his two co-accused in connection with the January 2015 Mamasapano incident.

In a resolution dated Feb. 12 and released to media yesterday, the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division held in abeyance the arraignment and pre-trial of Aquino, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr.

Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas are facing charges of violation of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices and usurpation of official functions under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.

The cases stemmed from Aquino’s alleged act of allowing Purisima, who was suspended at the time, to participate in the implementation of Oplan Exodus, a police operation aimed at neutralizing Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman.

Aquino’s arraignment was originally scheduled on Jan. 12, but it was postponed after he filed a motion to quash the cases.

The government also sought to stop the arraignment, saying the proper charge should be multiple homicide.