Former President Benigno Aquino III is unfazed by his indictment in the Mamasapano debacle, vowing that his political detractors will not be able to bring him down for the bungled police counterterrorism operation that led to the massacre of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.
Breaking his silence, Aquino told the Inquirer in an interview on Monday: 鈥淚n my conscience, I am very clear.鈥�
Asked if his political enemies would be able to get him with Mamasapano, he replied: 鈥淣o.鈥�
On Friday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing in the Sandiganbayan of criminal charges of usurpation of authority and graft against Aquino, then Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former SAF Director Getulio Nape帽as.
The graft charge carries a penalty ranging from six to 10 years in prison, while usurpation of authority is punishable by six months to six years in prison.
The charges stemmed from the SAF operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25, 2015, that killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, at the expense of 44 commando lives.
Purisima was allowed to direct the SAF operation although he was under suspension on graft charges.
Aquino acknowledged that Mamasapano was 鈥渙ne of the issues that had traction鈥� during his incumbency.
鈥淎nd my enemies, those who I want to characterize as wanting to preserve the wrong system for us, really tried to milk the issue for all it鈥檚 worth,鈥� he said.
Former President Benigno Aquino III 鈥擥RIG C.MONTEGRANDE
All about politics
It was unfortunate, Aquino said, that politics got in the way of the truth.
鈥淚nstead of helping to arrive at a thorough investigation that could have put a rest to all of the issues attendant to it, they tried to promote a lot of conspiracy angles and side issues to milk the issue,鈥� he said.
Aquino looks at the case he is facing as an 鈥渙pportunity to clear up the picture, in case there are those who want to know the truth.鈥�
Aquino鈥檚 lawyers are set to submit his motion for reconsideration (MR) today.
He was careful not to give details on his reply to the charges leveled against him until the MR is formally filed.
But Aquino said he was 鈥渃aught by tremendous surprise鈥� to see the charges against him.
鈥淚 was not aware there was a complaint lodged against me needing a resolution. So I asked my lawyers was I ever complained about on those two aspects and they told me that there was never any complaint. Since there was no complaint, there was never any situation where we had to submit a counteraffidavit and state our version, or our interpretation of the facts,鈥� he said.
鈥淪o to have something resolved when there was no complaint was something rather vague,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 am not a lawyer, but I am aware of the right to know of what you are being charged with, right to face the accusers and things like that,鈥� Aquino said.
Still, Aquino said, he continued 鈥渢o believe and to have faith鈥� in Morales. She swore him into office in June 2010 and he appointed her as Ombudsman after she retired from the Supreme Court.
He admitted that he was also quite affected by the fact that it was Morales who filed the case against him.
It would be 鈥渉ypocritical,鈥� Aquino said, to say otherwise.
鈥淚 try to understand where they are coming from,鈥� he said.
No to Congress probe
Aquino also said he would rather 鈥渂ring up clarifications鈥� on Mamasapano before the Office of the Ombudsman or the Sandiganbayan, instead of a congressional inquiry.
鈥淗ow will this add to the quest for legislation?鈥� he
noted.
To the SAF families who want to see him jailed, Aquino said he was aware that wanting to blame someone for the loss of a loved one was being 鈥渉uman.鈥�
鈥淚 understand everybody who suffered the loss would have [to undergo] this whole process to come to terms with the loss, that knowing exactly what happened can lead to closure and to moving on,鈥� he said.
Aquino believes that his critics are also behind the families who continue to slam him for Mamasapano.
Filing cases against these persons is not far from Aquino鈥檚 mind.
He will identify them, he said, 鈥渙nce I have the proof that can be utilized in court if I file the necessary cases.鈥�