Noynoy ready for Mamasapano trial

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will await the Sandiganbayan’s action on the cases filed against him in connection with the Mamasapano incident in 2015 as he repeated that he had always been ready to face trial should it come to that.

Aquino told The STAR in an interview on Wednesday that it was premature for him to talk because “we don’t know what the Sandiganbayan will do.”

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued on Feb. 7,  2018 to stop the anti-graft court’s proceedings on graft and usurpation of authority cases filed against Aquino for his alleged role in the Mamasapano debacle.

The High Court’s First Division granted Solicitor General Jose Calida’s plea for a TRO as he questioned the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to file graft and usurpation charges against Aquino instead of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide due to the death of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) during the encounter.

Last June, Ombudsman Samuel Martires withdrw the graft and usurpation charges filed against Aquino, saying his office did not find sufficient evidence.

He also said the dismissal was “without prejudice to the filing of appropriate charges against accused after the conduct of preliminary investigation.”

Aquino explained that he was made to believe that all the necessary coordination and preparation were made in connection with the Mamasapano operations against two international terrorists.

It turned out, however, that these were not done by then PNP chief Alan Purisima and former SAF chief Getulio Napenas, he said.