Palace backs reckless imprudence charges against Aquino, others over Mamasapano

MANILA— Malacañang yesterday backed the top government lawyer’s move to seek tougher charges against former president Benigno Aquino III and two former police officials over the bloody Mamasapano clash in 2015.

In what was the biggest crisis of Aquino’s presidency, a predawn mission to arrest two al Qaedalinked militants triggered a deadly encounter between police Special Action Force commandos and gunmen in Mamasapano that led to the death of 44 cops, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and several civilians.

A probe into the incident found that aside from MILF fighters, other armed groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armies had been involved in the clash.

The Office of the Solicitor General on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to order the Office of the Ombudsman to charge Aquino, former national police chief Alan Purisima, and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide.

“SolGen as counsel of the government is correct. There ought to be accountability for those responsible for the SAF 44 debacle,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Codenamed “Oplan Exodus,” the botched raid derailed passage of a proposed Bangsamoro law, a product of peace talks between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that was designed to end decades of conflict.

In November last year, the Office of the Ombudsman officially filed graft and usurpation of authority charges against Aquino.

(Philstar.com)