Aquino no-show in arraignment on Mamasapano bloodbath case

FORMER president Benigno Aquino 3rd did not show up in Friday’s scheduled arraignment for his graft and usurpation of authority cases in connection with the botched Mamasapano raid in January 2015.

The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division deferred to February 15 his arraignment as well as the pretrial of the cases against former Philippine National Police (PNP) director general Alan Purisima.

Aquino’s lawyer Romeo Fernandez said he thought the Sandiganbayan would tackle only former president.

Aquino’s presence was not required in the hearing on the motion to quash, he said.

Fernandez also said he was unaware that the arraignment was also scheduled on Friday.

The 39- page motion to quash said the Ombudsman’s charge sheet failed to state a violation of the Revised Penal Code and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and was

- ecutive power was vested in Mr. Aquino under

Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. He likewise had the duty to ensure that all laws are faithfully executed, and accordingly, ensure the arrest of the internationally wanted Marwan and Basit Usman. He had not been removed which, under the Constitution, is the only way by which his powers of control and supervision over the Executive Department, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), and the PNP could be taken away from him,” the defense said in the motion.

“All of these acts fell squarely within Mr. Aquino’s powers, functions, and prerogatives as then President of the Philippines, and therefore, cannot be deemed as criminal acts. The [ charges], therefore, must be quashed for accusing Mr. Aquino of acts which are actually justified and legal under the circumstances,” the defense said.