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Noynoy 'ready for the worst' on Mamasapano raps


 

Former president Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said he is prepared to go to jail following the criminal charges ordered filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

In an interview that aired on "24 Oras," Aquino answered in the affirmative when GMA News' Lei Alviz asked about the possibility of going to jail over the charged.

"Well gano'n naman parati ang attitude ko 'no? Walang mawawala sayo if you will prepare for the worst and hope for the best. So kausap natin ang mga abogado natin, binalikan ko lahat ng aking data with regards to Mamasapano and all the other cases tapos 'yung ini-imagine mo na rin," Aquino said

On Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing against Aquino over the Mamasapano tragedy, which resulted in the killings of 44 police commandos sent to Maguindanao to neutralize wanted terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman.

Aquino was charged with usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Section 3(a) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for supposedly committing gross and inexcusable negligence when he knew fully well that the operation was flawed, and breached the chain of command when he allowed former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima to participate in the plan even though the cop was under preventive suspension.

While confident about his innocence, Aquino expressed apprehension about the justice system in the Philippines.

"Nung tumakbo kasi ako, isa sa mga inambisyon natin no'n, electoral plans is 'yung judicial reform. So ngayon marami tayong mga kaso na nakikita na 'di natin maintindihan bakit gano'n ang resulta. Sabi ko sa mga kapatid ko nung pinuntahan nila 'ko nung Biyernes, sabi ko sa kanila ang panig ng katotohanan nasa atin. Pero never naman nangyayari ngayon sa sistema ng ating hudikatura," Aquino said.

"As far as 'yung issue of justice is concerned, it will give you a lot of questions," Aquino added.

Aquino, who will file a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman, noted that he has not been given a chance to give his side on the latest set of charges. He had previously been clearedby the Ombudsman of homicide raps related to the Mamasapano incident.

"Parang power of the Ombudsman and 'yung mga fiscal, meron ding ganong authority na mag-name ng kaso. Anong problema no'n? Ang problema lang no'n kasi, may magreklamo sayo, may affidavit of complaint siya, sasagutin mo counter-affidavit. Ngayon dahil walang nagreklamo hindi ako nag-encounter. So in short, para bang nung nireresolba nila 'tong issue na 'to, hindi kami nakapagsalita," Aquino said.

In his defense, Aquino said he trusted Purisima because of the police official's familiarity with the Special Action Force (SAF).

"Ang tanong sabi nung iba dapat hindi ko na siya kinakausap. Eh ang sagot ko lang don, siya kasi number one matagal ko nang kakilala, siyempre pulis siya, alam niya 'yung kultura, alam niya 'yung personalities, alam niya 'yung sistema, 'yung umiiral sa mundo ng kapulisan... galing siya sa SAF. Naintindihan niya istruktura, kakayahan, kakulangan, abilidad etc.," Aquino said.

"Pwede akong kumuha ng ibang adviser na galing SAF pero 'yung sigurado ba ko na itong galing SAF na to hindi 'yung alam mo na, 'yung pakisama niya sa mga kasamahan niya dati 'pag medyo nalabuan siya baka mag-quiet. Inaasahan natin na si Purisima at that time sasabihin sa 'kin 'yung totoo kahit na makontrahan 'yung mga nandon," he added. —Anna Felicia Bajo/JST, GMA News

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