Criminal charges filed anew vs Purisima for Mamasapano

MANILA, Philippines - Charges of usurpation of authority have been filed on Friday against dismissed Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima in connection to the Mamasapano incident.

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) filed the criminal complaint against Purisima for allegedly supervising the operation that led to the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos while he was under preventive suspension.

VACC Chair Dante Jimenez said that the complaint against Purisima is just a preparation for a series of charges that will be filed against President Benigno Aquino III.

Jimenez added that they will also file charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against the president by July.

The VACC head pointed out that Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile's claims that Aquino compartmentalized the Mamasapano operation was true.

READ: Enrile: PNoy avoiding responsibility for Mamasapano

On July 2015, the Office of the Ombudsman filed charges of neglect of duty against Purisima, former SAF director Getulio Napeñas and eight other police officials for the Mamasapano incident.

Charges of graft and grave misconduct were also filed against Purisima, Napeñas and Chief Superintendent Fernando Mendez Jr.