‘Aquino’s time of reckoning’

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Saturday said he believed that the “time has finally come” for former President Benigno Aquino III to deal with the consequences of the 2015 Mamasapano incident that cost the lives of 44 elite police commandos.

Panelo said Aquino may have used the “power or wealth” to conceal his liability over the bungled operation of the elite police Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25, 2015, but he could not escape the law.

“Sooner or later, the law will catch up on those who use power or wealth to shield themselves from the majesty of the law. There is a time for reckoning and the time has finally come for the former president,” he said in a statement.

“Dura Lex, Sed Lex (The law is harsh, but it is the law). No power nor wealth can escape from it. It can only delay its coming, but when It does, It operates ex propio vigore (with full force and effect),” he added.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, in a July 14 resolution, ordered the filing of charges against Aquino for usurpation of authority (Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code) and violation of section 3(a) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) for his alleged liability in the Mamasapano carnage.

Morales said the investigation would prove that Aquino was “fully aware” about the covert Oplan Exodus launched by SAF against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and even allowed then Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Alan Purisima to participate while he was still under preventive suspension.

Purisima is named as Aquino’s co-conspirator, along with relieved SAF director Getulio Napeñas.

Morales noted that the text message exchanges between Aquino and Purisima showed that the former Chief Executive allowed the suspended former PNP chief to play a “major role” in the botched operation.

“Purisima would not have been placed in such a position of continuing to conduct himself in relation to Oplan Exodus, in a manner as if he was not under preventive suspension at that time, from his position as PNP chief, were it not for the complicity and influence of President Aquino,” she said.

Malacañang said Friday that it respects the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to file criminal charges Aquino as President Rodrigo Duterte pinned hope “to finally bring justice to the victims and families of the “Fallen 44” and put closure to the issue, as part of the healing process.”