Aquino, et al. Mamasapano arraignment halted

Former President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Update

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the arraignment of former President Benigno Aquino III and two others at the Sandiganbayan for graft and usurpation charges over the Mamasapano massacre.

In a three-page order released on Friday, the SC’s First Division instructed the Sandiganbayan to stop from proceeding with the arraignment of Aquino, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, and former Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas Jr.

The High Court also halted the implementation of resolutions issued by the Office of the Ombudsman that junked the charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against the three officials.

The TRO stemmed from a petition filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), backed by a manifestation from the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

Last November, the VACC, together with the relatives of the fallen SAF 44, filed a pleading for the issuance of the writ of certiorari with prayer for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.

The VACC petition seeks to restrain what it called the “weak” criminal charges filed by the Ombudsman against Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas for graft and usurpation of authority.