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| Photo file from Rappler |
Following the case filed against former President Benigno Noynoy Aquino over the ill-fated Mamasapano encounter, an ally Senator said that Aquino should not be blamed as he was not the one responsible.
On Wednesday, Senator Antonio Trillanes said that the former President should not be charged of graft and usurpation.
According to Trillanes, it was former Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) Director Getulio Napenas who is responsible for the failure of the mission in Mamapasano that killed 44 police commandos.
Trillanes countered that there was no negligence on Aquino’s part, as it was Napenas who commanded the almost 400 Special Action Forces (SAF) on midnight of January 25, 2015 to kill the most wanted terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan.
"Binigay niya [Aquino] ang order kay Mr. Napeñas at binigyan ng resources, so sa amin ‘yung commander, ikaw ang responsible kapag pumalpak," Trillanes told the reporters in an interview.
During the mission, SAF men were able to neutralize Marwan but resulted an encounter with the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters while commandos were exiting the area.
"Hindi mo puwedeng isisi sa taas, sa presidente yung kapalpakan mo na sabihin e 'kaya ako pumalpak kasi binigyan ako ng order ng presidente.' Hindi puwede yun," Trillanes added.
On Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman formally charged Aquino of graft and usurpation of official function at the Sandiganbayan.
Trillanes also believes that Aquino is capable of defending himself over the said cases filed against him.
"Naniniwala ako na kayang depensahan ni President Aquino ang kanyang sarili dahil personally, hindi pwedeng makasuhan ng usurpation of authority ang commander-in-chief and wala rin namang command responsibility... walang negligence on the part of the president," he said.
Trillanes also believes that Aquino is capable of defending himself over the said cases filed against him.
"Naniniwala ako na kayang depensahan ni President Aquino ang kanyang sarili dahil personally, hindi pwedeng makasuhan ng usurpation of authority ang commander-in-chief and wala rin namang command responsibility... walang negligence on the part of the president," he said.
Napenas and former PNP Chief Alan Purisima are already facing trial at the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division for their role in Mamasapano massacre.
Source: GMA News
Source: GMA News
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