The Office of the Ombudsman charged former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino today with graft and usurpation of authority in connection to the 2015 Mamasapano massacre that killed 44, Special Action Force members, from the country’s elite police unit.
Last September, the Ombudsman junked Aquino’s motion to overturn his indictment, clearing the way for the filing of criminal information against him.
READ: Former Philippine president Aquino faces charges over botched raid
Aquino has insisted that the botched anti-terror mission was not his fault, pinning the blame instead on former SAF director Getulio Napeñas who allegedly disobeyed orders to coordinate with the Army.
The former president also denied holding back military reinforcements to preserve a ceasefire with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Aquino’s case will be raffled for hearing among the 5 divisions of Sandiganbayan on Friday.
The Ombudsman has recommended a PHP30,000 bail (US$600) for graft and PHP10,000 (US$200) bail for usurpation charges against Aquino.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier announced that he will create a new commission to re-investigate the Mamasapano carnage that also killed Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino cohort Basit Usman.
