Purisima, Napeñas should have been charged earlier, Morales says

The graft raps against former PNP chief Alan Purisima and former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas in connection with the Mamasapano incident should have been filed much earlier, the Ombudsman said on Wednesday.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said she already issued a show-cause order to the official in charge at the Office of the Ombudsman Special Prosecutor why she should not be held liable for the late filing of the charges before the Sandiganbayan.

The Ombudsman as early as June 2016 dismissed the motions for reconsideration filed by Purisima and Napeñas as regards the cases filed against them in connection with their roles in Operation Exodus, the ill-fated police operation against international terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The charges, which included usurpation of of authority against Purisima, were filed only on Tuesday—the eve of the second anniversary of the debacle that killed more than 60 persons, including 44 SAF commandos.

"It was just yesterday when we discovered that it turned that the information was due for filing in June yet. I issued a show-cause order to the former records, chief of the OSP why she did not file the information contrary to the standing order of the Ombudsman that if you submit a case for filing, it should be within a reasonable time," Morales said.

Morales said that she would not have known the delay in the filing of the criminal charges if not for the media.

"You see, there are so many cases against Purisima. You know, I'm the Ombudsman, I go through several cases. I pressumed the case was filed," Morales said.

"When it was discovered that it was not filed, I told you, I gave her a show-cause order to answer within 24 hours why she should not be faulted," she added.

Asked whether the show-cause order connotes administrative sanction, the Ombudsman said, "Well, if we find that there's going to be a criminal aspect on the case. We will certainly file a criminal aspect of the case."

"We are still looking at all the records because you see this one in charge was already relieved of her position," she added.

Ombudsman Morales named the relieved records officer as a certain "Atty. Cagat Cagat."

"It was the incoming officer who was able to discover that there have been some information which were due for filing but which were not filed by her," she added.

Complaint vs. Aquino

Regarding former President Benigno Aquino III homicide raps, "We are investigating the complaint against the [former] President and some other respondents. And so we have to consolidate all the complaints against the President and the others so that we would come up with a uniform finding."

The Ombudsman added, "It's already under preliminary investigation. I think the President, I'm referring to [former] President PNoy, he asked for extension of time to file a counter affidavit."

Commission to probe Mamasapano

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday that he plans to form a commission to investigate the Mamasapano incident.

When asked if Ombudsman Morales was offended about this, she said, "There's nothing that should prevent him from deciding that we should have a committee or commission to investigate the Mamasapano clash."

"I'm not offended at all," the Ombudsman added.

"It's up to anyone to assail its regularity if they're minded. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not going to comment on that because our investigation is ongoing." —NB/KG, GMA News