VACC urges Ombudsman to reconsider homicide raps vs. ex-President Aquino

MANILA, July 19 — The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Wednesday urged the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) to reconsider the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against former President Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III.

VACC chair Dante Jimenez and legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio, accompanied by some relatives of the 44 slain Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in the midnight of Jan. 24, 2015,filed Wednesday a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) before the Ombudsman.

In its MR, the VACC asked the Ombudsman to reconsider its decision on the downgrading of the complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against the former president.

During an operation, dubbed “Oplan Exodus,” the elite PNP commandos neutralized Zulkifli Bin Hir alias “Marwan” but also resulted in a bloody encounter between the government troops and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and private armed groups (PAGs) in the area.

The outnumbered troopers of the PNP-SAF died while waiting for reinforcements to arrive.

In an ambush interview with reporters, Topacio said that the charges against Aquino were not commensurate to the 44 lives lost when almost 400 SAF men went to Mamasapano on the midnight of Jan. 24, 2015 in pursuit of wanted terrorist “Marwan”.

“Para sa amin hindi karapat-dapat yung graft because buhay po ang nawala dito. 44 lives were lost. How can you equate the lives of 44 sa graft? Hindi naman po pagnanakaw lamang sa kaban ng bayan, although that is already a big enough crime. Symbolically, hindi po katarungan yan,” Topacio said.

Last week, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of graft and usurpation of authority against Aquino.

Named as co-accused in the case are former PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and former PNP-SAF Director Getulio Napenas. (Perfecto T. Raymundo/PNA)

Popular

Corruption ‘not typical’ of gov’t —PBBM

By Brian Campued “These corrupt people are not the face of government. All they are is the face of corruption. That’s all they are. They...

PBBM to local chief executives: Lead with grace, stem corruption at its roots

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet At the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected officials of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and the League...

PBBM grants cash incentives to WorldSkills ASEAN medalists

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday awarded cash incentives to Filipino medalists who excelled in the...

PBBM: No ‘political advantage’ behind disclosure of flood control mess in SONA 2025

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet In the fifth episode of the BBM Podcast aired on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shared his insights on the...