MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday hailed the decision of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to absolve President Aquino of any criminal liability over the Mamasapano incident.
“This is part of the legal process and we respect the actions of the Office of the Ombudsman as an independent constitutional body,” Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said.
Coloma made the statement shortly after the Office of the Ombudsman announced the recommendation to file charges against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and other police officials involved in the Mamasapano incident.
Purisima, on the other hand, was not available for comment. Even his lawyer, Kristoffer James Purisima, was not available.
Sen. Grace Poe also welcomed the ombudsman’s recommendations against the police officials involved.
Poe, however, withheld comment on the reports that the ombudsman did not see any criminal liability against President Aquino.
“I am glad that the investigating panel has finally come up with a recommendation on this case. I’ll reserve comment on the particular findings at this point because this recommendation is not final,” she said.
Poe headed the congressional inquiry on the Mamasapano incident as chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
Poe earlier issued a joint committee report saying that President Aquino was “ultimately liable” for the outcome of the Mamasapano incident.
“As I understand this will still be reviewed by Ombudsman Morales. I would like to wait for the final resolution of the ombudsman on the commission of usurpation of authority by Purisima,” she said.
For his part, Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer declined to comment on today’s developments.
Ferrer is the chairman of the committee on public order and safety in the House of Representatives that conducted an inquiry into the Mamasapano incident.
“I believe the ombudsman or the DOJ (Department of Justice) has jurisdiction on this matter,” Ferrer said.
The PNP said it would abide by the directive of the Office of the Ombudsman.
“So whatever directive given by the ombudsman, the PNP will abide,” PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said.
The ombudsman approved the recommendation of the special panel of field investigators to initiate administrative adjudication and preliminary investigation against Purisima and 10 other police officers, including former PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) commander Director Getulio Napeñas.
Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said the ombudsman panel also absolved President Aquino of any criminal liability over the incident.
Rafanan said the ombudsman’s investigation on the Mamasapano incident showed Purisima, Napeñas and PNP Intelligence director Chief Supt. Fernando Mendez Jr. could be liable for grave misconduct and violation of Section 3 the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
A total of 60 people, including 44 SAF policemen, were killed in the firefight with Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.
The slain policemen were part of a SAF operation to capture suspected terrorists hiding in a remote village in Mamasapano.
The police operation went awry after the SAF commandos figured in a firefight with Muslim rebels while on their way out of the area. – Christina Mendez, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Paolo Romero