President Duterte Hopes To Finally Bring Justice, Closure To SAF 44
President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping that justice will
finally be served to the 44 Special Action Force (PNP) police commandos who
were slain in the Mamasapano massacre, Malacañang said Friday, July 14.
“The President recognizes the heroic sacrifice of the
Philippine National Police-Special Action Force 44, and it is his – and the
nation’s – 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,”
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
Abella added that the Palace “respects the Ombudsman’s
constitutional mandate to investigate public officials.”
The Palace official made the statements after Ombudsman
Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of criminal charges against former
President Benigno Aquino III in connection with the January 2015 tragedy.
President Aquino was criminally charged 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 No. 3019).
Standing as his co-conspirators, are former Philippine
National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima and Director Getulio
Napeñas of the SAF.
On January 24, 2015, almost 400 highly-trained SAF commandos
launched Oplan Exodus to serve standing warrants of arrest against
internationally-wanted terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and Ahmad Akmad
Uson in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
In the ensuing firefight that lasted for several hours, 44
SAF troopers died in the line of duty.
In the investigation, Morales noted that President Aquino
was fully aware that the Office of the Ombudsman had placed Purisima under
preventive suspension during the planning and actual conduct of the operation.
“The fact remains that, at the time, particularly before and
during the actual implementation of Oplan Exodus, Purisima was under preventive
suspension, and that Purisima, despite being under preventive suspension,
indeed played an active role in Oplan Exodus… to the point that he was
exercising a degree of authority and discretion over Napeñas and consequently,
over the operation,” reads the consolidated resolution.
“In other words, 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,” the complaint read.
Source: Philippine News Agency
President Duterte Hopes To Finally Bring Justice, Closure To SAF 44
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