VACC to file raps vs Aquino on his first day as ordinary citizen

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) on Tuesday said that they would file multiple charges against President Benigno Aquino III on July 1, 2016—his first day as an ordinary citizen upon the expiration of his six-year term as the highest official of the country—over the death of at least 67 people in the bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25, 2015.

VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez said that they have already prepared an initial draft of the complaint that they would file against the President, who will then be vulnerable from suit after shedding his immunity.

Jimenez said that from multiple murder, they would file 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and serious physical injuries against Aquino, suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, former Special Action Forces commander Getulio Napenas Jr. and other police and military officials.

READ: Why return to Mamasapano?

“Napagkasunduan na ifa-file (ang kaso) sa DOJ (Department of Justice) (It was agreed upon that the case will be filed at DOJ). That would be on July 1, 2016 right after his term of office expires,” Jimenez said in an interview which aired over Radyo Inquirer.

The VACC chair said that they have decided to file charges against the President because he supposedly green-lighted Operation Exodus with the participation of a suspended police official.

“The President gave operational directive to a suspended chief PNP, in the person of Director General Alan Purisima, (who was then) suspended by the Ombudsman. Kahit isa lang yun, klarong-klaro na talaga doon na ito ay violation agad. Hindi puwede i-deny niya yun (Although it was just one (person), it was clearly a violation. He cannot deny it),” Jimenez said.

He expressed confidence that Aquino will be jailed with the “wealth of evidence” showing the President’s supposed involvement in the bungled counterterrorist operation which was responsible for the capture and death of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir (also known as Marwan).

READ: Mamasapano survivors: Finally, we convinced President Aquino

Jimenez also said that the filing of charges against the President and other officials is their way of helping the families of those who have been killed in Mamasapano to achieve justice.

“Justice will be served. Ito ang pangako namin sa mga tinutulungan nating mga survivors. Kahit bayaran mo ng marami lahat yan, bigyan mo ng material things yan, ang kailangan pa rin nila is justice at hindi mo mabibili yang justice.”

(Justice will be served. Such is our promise to the survivors we have helped. Even if you pay them and give them material things, in the end, justice is what they need and you cannot buy justice.)

“Somebody must be answerable to this,” he said.

The Senate will hold a probe reopening on the Mamasapano incident on Wednesday. Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile has earlier claimed that the evidence in his possession will prove that Aquino was “actively” and “directly” involved in the planning and preparation of the Mamasapano operation. RAM

READ: Enrile out to prove Aquino’s ‘direct’ involvement in Mamasapano