CHARGES CAN STILL BE REFILED VS PURISIMA, NAPEÑAS, SAYS GORDON

Sen. Richard Gordon believes that charges can be refiled against the personalities involved in the Mamasapano antiterror operation that took the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members and several Moro fighters.

Gordon, who had criticized the Sandiganbayan decision dismissing graft and usurpation raps against former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former police Special Action Force Director Getulio Napeñas Jr., noted that the ruling passed with a narrow 3-2 vote.

“There is a chance. It was not dismissed with prejudice to refiling,” Gordon said over dwiz.

If indeed cases would be refiled against Purisima, Napeñas and even former President Benigno Aquino III as planned by relatives of the slain SAF operatives, the new case should be more carefully studied, he said.

“I don’t blame them, but I think they should be careful about the case they would file. The Sandiganbayan has made a decision. Maybe they could file a usurpation case again because I think the court made an error there,” he said.

According to him, it was clear to all that Purisima, who was suspended during the time of the Mamasapano operation, was still allowed to participate in the planning and implementation of the plan to arrest a terror suspect, Gordon said.

And when government troops clashed with Moro rebels and were being massacred, the government did not send help, he added.

As for a Senate probe on the issue, Gordon said he would consult his fellow senators on the reopening of the inquiry into the case.