Binay asks ombudsman: Why spare Noy on Mamasapano?

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay questioned yesterday Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for exonerating President Aquino of criminal liability for the Jan. 25 slaughter of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos and over a dozen rebels and civilians.

“The exoneration of the President of any criminal offense for his active planning of the doomed police mission raises more questions and doubts to a public seeking for a just closure to this tragedy,” he said.

Binay cited reports that the Office of the Ombudsman had approved the conduct of preliminary investigation only against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, retired Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas Jr. and other police officers in relation to the massacre.

After half a year, justice continues to elude the SAF 44, he added.

Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said a special panel of field investigators did not find evidence to link Aquino to the slaughter.

Binay said the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman was inconsistent with the PNP Board of Inquiry report that Aquino “had bypassed the established PNP chain of command” for allowing Purisima’s participation in the planning and execution despite his suspension.  

It does not jibe with the Senate report on the Mamasapano incident declaring the President as “ultimately responsible,” he added.

Binay said while many people could not believe the ombudsman’s decision, more people are dismayed at the Senate inquiry’s inaction on the Mamasapano slaughter.

“After making noises, Sen. Grace Poe allowed her report to gather dust,” he said. “She didn’t even discuss it in the plenary and now is still pending second reading.”

“Is this how public officials, who claim righteousness and independence of mind, pay tribute to the extraordinary heroism of our befallen government troops? Selective justice still persists.”

He, along with the Filipino people, will continue to seek justice for the fallen SAF commandos, Binay said.

Poe chaired the Senate inquiry into the Mamasapano massacre.

Escudero defends Poe

Sen. Francis Escudero has defended Poe against the latest tirade of Binay over the Mamasapano case.?“It’s not right to say that Sen. Poe is sitting (on the Mamasapano case) because she has already released the committee report signed by 21 senators, and it is now in the plenary,” he said in Filipino.

Escudero criticized Binay for using the issue against Poe when she was the one who led the probe as chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.?“It has been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, which has issued a decision to investigate the culpability of officials responsible for the bloody encounter in Mamasapano,” he said in Filipino. ?He is wondering why Binay is hitting Poe now when he was silent at the height of the controversy last January, Escudero said.

‘Reopen Mamasapano case’

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has written Poe to consider reopening the investigation into the Mamasapano slaughter in light of the recent recommendations of the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the filing of charges against members of the Philippine National Police.?“I was very surprised that they included in their investigation the junior officers of the SAF who were part of the Mamasapano operation but survived,” he said. – With Marvin Sy, Christina Mendez