Marawi commanders vulnerable if ex-PNoy charged over Mamasapano incident —Trillanes

The charges that the Office of the Ombudsman will file against former President Benigno Aquino III in connection with his alleged involvement in the Mamasapano incident will set a bad precedent in the military, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said on Sunday.

"Ang pag-file nitong kasong ito will set a bad precedent sa mga military commanders," Trillanes told reporters in a press conference at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City.

Trillanes was referring to the usurpation of authority and graft charges that the Ombudsman is set to file against Aquino before the Sandiganbayan over the anti-terrorist operation that led to the massacre of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.

His co-accused in the case are former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former Special Action Force (SAF) director Getulio Napeñas.

Trillanes said the negative results that arose from the failed operation may not be used as a justification to file a complaint before the Ombudsman.

"Kapag pumapalpak ang isang military operation, merong mga mekanismo para siguraduhing hindi mauulit ang mga ganung disastrous results. Pero hindi kinakasuhan, lalo na sa Ombudsman, ang mga ganung negative results," he said.

"Kagaya nito, 'yung mga nangyari sa Marawi, it would also mean na vulnerable ang mga commanders diyan. Sana huwag naman nating gawin na precedent ang nangyari sa Mamasapano," he added.

Trillanes said it would be better instead to run after those who actually killed the police commandos.

"Ito ay nadala ng emosyon, hindi maganda ang nangyari. Pero may mga paraan para masigurado na hindi na ito mauulit muli at mapanagot 'yung mga responsable," he said.

"Unang-una ang mga pumatay dito sa SAF ay hindi pa rin accounted for. Sila 'yung dapat nating habulin at sila ang pumatay," he added. —ALG, GMA News