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[av_heading heading=’PNoy appointee to handle graft case filed vs ex-Prez ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The charges filed against former President Benigno Aquino III in connection with the 2015 Mamasapano incident had been raffled to the Sandiganbayan division of his appointee.
Sandiganbayan Third Division chair Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang had been selected to handle the complaints filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against the former President.
Tang, however, quickly cleared all the doubts that the case against Aquino would be dismissed, saying she “dispense(s) justice without fear or favor.”
“Lahat naman kami dito naging appointee ng different presidents but more than just gratefulness to those who appointed us, we have a sworn duty and that should be the foremost consideration — to render justice,” Tang said.
The Ombudsman on Wednesday filed graft and usurpation of authority charges against Aquino before the Sandiganbayan for the bungled operation that resulted into death of 44 Philippine National Police – Special Action Forces (PNP-SAF) troopers.
Based on the case information, Aquino allowed then suspended Philippine National Police director general Alan Purisima to have an active role in the “Oplan Exodus.”
Aquino also instructed Purisima to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and communicated exclusively with the former police chief at the height of the operations on Jan. 25, 2015, according to the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman denied Aquino’s motion for reconsideration and upheld its June 2017 resolution finding probable cause for the indictment of the former president.
The bloody operation led to the death of international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan but also resulted in the death of 44 PNP-SAF commandos, some Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, and a few civilians./PN
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