Ombudsman Morales unfazed by impeachment threat

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is not bent on filing a case against former President Benigno Aquino III over the Masasapano clash just to avoid an impeachment complaint that may be lodged against her.

"I welcome any impeachment move," Morales said in an interview with GMA News. "But if I read at the newspaper is correct, that if I don’t file a case against PNoy they will certainly a file then I said go ahead."

"I will not file a case against someone if the evidence does not warrant," she added."If the case warrants it, huwag lang nila sasabihin na it was because takot siya sa impeachment." 

Morales was referring to the statement of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman Dante Jimenez that an impeachment complaint may be filed against her over the supposed slow progress of the Mamasapano case. 

The Mamasapano clash refers to the deaths of over 60 people, including 44 police Special Action Force members, during an operation in January 2015 to arrest high-value terror suspects in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Morales said VACC has been criticizing her for the exclusion of Aquino from the charge sheet. The Office of the Ombudsman only charged former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas Jr. with graft and usurpation of authority.

Morales said Aquino was not included in the case due to his immunity from suit since he was still the president when the case was filed.

"PNoy was spared from being charged because at that time he was immune from suit. We resolved this case. We found probable case against Napeñas and Purisima," she said.

At least two relatives of police commandos killed in the Mamasapano clash filed a multiple homicide complaint against Aquino a day after he stepped down from presidency in July last year. Several others were filed in the following months.

Purisima already posted bail over the charges, while Napeñas has yet to be arraigned. 

Meanwhile, Morales assured her critics that the Ombudsman will file appropriate charges against Aquino as they see fit, regardless if he was the one who appointed her into office.

"We go by the evidence. 'Wag nila sabihin na takot siya. Kung evidence ay talagang nagsasabi na may liability si PNoy, what should prevent us from filing?" she said.

Morales gave no timeline when she expects the case to be resolved. "We cannot really predict when it’s going to be resolved. Pag sinabi namin na bilisan niyo baka magpadala sila ng resolution na half-met, and I don’t like that. I want an exhaustive analysis of the case." —KBK, GMA News