‘Misappreciation of facts,’ Aquino camp says of Ombudsman indictment

Former Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

The camp of former President Benigno Aquino III on Friday said there “appears to have been a misappreciation of some facts” that led to the Mamasapano debacle in 2015 that left 44 elite police officers dead.

READ: Ombudsman orders filing of raps vs Aquino over Mamasapano massacre

It is expected that Aquino will file a motion for consideration after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of criminal charges against him for his supposed accountability in the carnage that stemmed from a botched counterinsurgency operation.

In a statement, Aquino’s spokesperson, Abigail Valte, said that the former President has already received the order from the Ombudsman and “is currently studying it with his lawyers, with the end view of filing a motion for reconsideration.”

“An initial reading shows that there may have been a misappreciation of some facts surrounding the incident, leading to some erroneous conclusions. He will seek to clarify the same through the motion for reconsideration,” Valte said.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the filing of charges against Aquino for usurpation of authority and violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

Morales administered Aquino’s oath of office as the 15th President on June 30, 2010. He later appointed her as the Ombudsman in 2011, following her retirement from the Supreme Court.

In her resolution, Morales said Aquino was aware that then Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima was under suspension by the Ombudsman pending his pending his graft indictment over the anomalous Werfast gun courier service deal.

Yet, Aquino still allowed Purisima to participate in the planning of the anti-terror raid dubbed as Oplan Exodus in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that took down international terrorist Marwan.

Purisima and then SAF head Director Getulio Napeñas, who was the ground commander of the operation, were also charged as Aquino’s co-conspirators. With a report from Nestor Corrales — JPV