Former SAF chief Napeñas joins senatorial race

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED 9:36 a.m.) — Former Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) chief General Getulio Napeñas on Friday joined the senatorial race as he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator.

Napeñas will run under the opposition party United Nationalist Alliance.

Last July, Napeñas retired from the police service and was said to seek Senate seat under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party.

He changed his mind, however, and decided to run under the senatorial slate of Vice President Jejomar "Jojo" Binay's party, saying Binay was the one of those who recognized the SAF 44.

LIVE UPDATES: 2016 candidates at Comelec

Napeñas said his decision to run for senator is due to public clamor.

He also wanted to provide justice for the 44 SAF commandos who were killed in January's botched Mamasapano anti-terror police operation.

After the tragedy, Napeñas was charged with negligence of duty and was sacked from his post as chief of the police commandos.

LIVE list: Aspirants for national posts

The Office of the Ombudsman also recommended to file against him charges of grave misconduct, violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. — Video by Efigenio Toledo IV