VACC eyes deeper probe into SAF 44 case for graver raps vs. Noynoy

Anti-crime group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Saturday vowed to conduct a re-investigation into the bloody Mamasapano encounter, believing that the cases filed against former President Benigno Aquino III over the fiasco were too light.

VACC chairman Dante Jimenez told Super Radyo dzBB early Saturday morning that the group's lawyers would try to work for a re-investigation and take their concern to the Department of Justice.

"Nag-usap na kami ng aming mga abogado at pag-aaralan naming mabuti ang pag-imbestiga muli sa kaso. Masyadong mababaw ang kasong inihain ng Office of the Ombudsman laban kay Noynoy Aquino," Jimenez said.

Last Wednesday, the Ombudsman formally filed criminal complaints against Aquino with the Sandiganbayan over his alleged role in the anti-terrorist operation that led to the massacre of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.

Aquino is facing charges for graft and usurpation of official function. But the VACC argued that the charges are too light. 

Families of the 44 slain elite police  officials, with the help of the VACC,  said they will not join in the proceedings of the Ombudsman's cases against Aquino.

Earlier, VACC legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio said the Ombudsman is protecting Aquino from more grievous charges with the complaints it file.

"We say again that the said charges are designed to fail—in order to inoculate President Aquino against the graver charge of mass homicide which could possibly put him behind bars for the rest of his life," Topacio said.

In defending himself, Aquino put the blame on SAF chief Getulio Napeñas for the failure of the anti-terror operation in Mamasapano.

In a press conference at his Quezon City residence last Friday, Aquino said he was made to believe that the operation was coordinated with the military as he instructed.

"May presumption of regularity... Itong tao na pinromote ko, hindi naman siguro ako bobolahin," Aquino said of Napeñas.

Unconvinced by Aquino's passing the blame on Napeñas, VACC's Jimenez on the same interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday, said that they are also looking into the possibility of making the former SAF chief a state witness for graver cases against former president Aquino.

The VACC is looking at reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide as one of the possible charges against Aquino for the deaths of 44 SAF members.  —LBG, GMA News