Ni: Czarina Nicole O. Ong
Bad news para kay dating Pangulong Benigno Aquino III: ibinasura ng Office of the Ombudsman ang kanyang motion for reconsideration (MR) na humihiling na huwag na siyang kasuhan ng graft at usurpation kaugnay ng pagkamatay ng 44 na operatiba ng Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) sa Mamasapano, Maguindanao noong Enero 2015.
Sa pinag-isang utos na nilagdaan noong Setyembre 11, 2017, ibinasura ni Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ang mosyon ng dating Pangulo at sinabing itutuloy ang Consolidated Resolution na may petsang Hunyo 13, 2017, na magsasakdal sa kanya at kina dating PNP chief Director Gen. Alan Purisima at dating SAF Director Getulio Napeñas.
May probable cause si Morales upang idiin si Aquino sa paggamit nito ng serbisyo ng sinuspindeng police chief sa pagsasagawa ng Oplan Exodus.
"While a President of the Republic is certainly possessed with broad discretionary powers, the exercise thereof must not, however, be done in violation of a law or laws, much less when such exercise constitutes a crime," saad sa utos ng Ombudsman. "A government of laws, not of men, excludes the exercise of broad discretionary powers by those acting under its authority."
Una nang ipinagpilitan ni Aquino na nararapat lamang na hindi siya kasuhan ng graft at usurpation dahil ang pagkamatay ng 44 sa SAF ay dahil "the intentional act of shooting by hostile forces—and not my actions."