Noy vows to face charges: 'Hindi naman ako nagpa-ospital'

After posting bail for usurpation and graft charges he is facing before the Sandiganbayan, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Friday vowed that he will not evade court proceedings.

“Haharapin namin lahat 'to. Hindi naman ako umalis, hindi naman ako nag-pa-ospital; although pinipilit na ako magpa-ospital at magpa-check up,” Aquino told reporters in a press conference held in his Quezon City residence.

“Nandito kami, sasagutin namin yan...Ang pananggala ko lang yung katotohanan eh,” he said.

Aquino is facing criminal charges over the botched 2015 Mamasapano operation that resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members. He posted a P40,000-bail for the charges of graft and usurpation of official function.

Aquino said he would have wanted to go to his home province Tarlac but decided against it, wary that an arrest warrant may be issued against him while he is there.

“Hindi matuloy-tuloy yung uwi kasi baka pag-uwi ko, sakto lalabas yung arrest warrant, dadamputin pa ko ng kung sino law enforcement entity. Sabi ko, hintayin ko na lang. Eh di lumabas, 'pwede na ba mag-file at pwede ko na ba exercise yung right to bail'?” Aquino said.

The arraignment and pre-trial of the former President is tentatively set on January 12 next year.

The Office of the Ombudsman has accused Aquino of "willfully" allowing former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima to play a role in the planning the police operation dubbed Oplan Exodus.

At that time, the PNP was under acting chief Leonardo Espina.

Purisima, according to the Ombudsman, gave instructions, received reports and recommendations, and approved the actions of then Special Action Force (SAF) commander Getulio Napeñas during the operation.

Aquino said Purisima was merely a “resource person.”

Asked about President Rodrigo Duterte's seeming defense of him, Aquino simply told his successor: “Thank you.”

“I want to answer that but it was specifically mentioned by my lawyers not to go into,” Aquino said.

Duterte earlier said he agreed with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of his staunchest critics, on his points relating to the charges filed against Aquino.

Duterte said the president cannot “usurp what is inherently your duty.”

"‘Yung function ng police, function ng military, the — the President can always intervene, modify, amend, or change altogether your ideas,” Duterte, a lawyer, said. —JST, GMA News