Finally, justice for the Mamasapano debacle

One of the disturbing moments that happened a year ago was when the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order against the coming trial of former president Benigno “PNoy” Aquino III on his role as an accused in the 2015 Mamasapano massacre in Maguindanao. Why the SC issued that restraining order escapes me and so many other pundits who believed that the former president played a key role in the untimely deaths of 44 Special Action Force troopers of the Philippine National Police last January 25, 2015 in Oplan Exodus!

Our thoughts are very simple, after the Mamasapano massacre, which was uploaded in our Facebook page so netizens could see the horror and the gruesome way our innocent policemen were killed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). To add to our curiousness, after the Sunday noon incident, Pres. Aquino disappeared from public view for the next three days and when the remains of the 44 SAF arrived in Villamor Airbase, the president was nowhere to be found.

We learned that the president chose to grace the reopening of the Mitsubishi assembly plant in Laguna, rather than meet the remains of the men he put to their untimely deaths. We also learned that the president was in Zamboanga City that Sunday to look at the American drone facility, and I’m very sure he must have received word that the SAF was under attack.

Mind you, my Facebook page shows a white helicopter with no markings picking up a wounded man most probably an American CIA agent, then all of a sudden, Facebook took out that photo. We later learned from friends in General Aviation in Manila that there was a white helicopter, which was placed inside a container van and shipped to God knows where!

So when I read the news in The Philippine STAR that the Supreme Court has lifted its halt order on the trial of former president Aquino at the Sandiganbayan, I was elated that at least justice has somehow prevailed. I’m very sure that the wives and children of the 44 dead troopers are also elated about this news. This was a report we read from Supreme Court spokesman Brian Hosaka who reported that Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin confirmed that the Supreme Court voted to lift the Temporary Restraining Order it issued against the trial on Feb. 28, 2018.

For us, this also means that the graft and usurpation of official function trial against former president Aquino, former PNP chief Alan Purisima, and former PNP-SAF director Getulio Napeñas Jr. can now proceed. What was strange was that this TRO was issued before Aquino, Purisima, and Napeñas were arraigned. What a grave injustice that was!

We also learned that Ombudsman Samuel Martires moved to withdraw the case, saying there is no sufficient ground or evidence to charge Aquino for graft and usurpation functions “being then the president of the Republic of the Philippines.” At this point, we hope that Ombudsman Martires has already retired or, if not, would be removed from being active in this case for it is clear to us that he acted for the benefit of the former president and the rest of the accused. So let the case begin so we can finally see justice no longer unnecessarily delayed! It makes me wonder what former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, a yellowtard, would now say about this case?

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What do you know? The Nimitz-class super aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), along with Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Chancellorsville (CG 52) arrived in Manila for a brief port call.

US Ambassador Sung Kim said in a statement, "This visit is a great representation of our strong friendship, partnership and alliance with the Philippines, as well as a testament to our joint commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region."

We gathered that the US Navy and Philippine Navy personnel will take part in sporting events, senior leadership exchanges, community relations, and cultural events while the visiting ships are in the country. This goes to show that the 7th Fleet is always on duty in the Pacific Ocean and here in Asia. Thus it is a comforting thought that one of America’s super carriers is not far from the Philippine archipelago! We hope someday it will also visit us here in Cebu!

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