Aquino charged before Sandiganbayan over Mamasapano

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday officially filed graft and usurpation of authority charges against former President Benigno Aquino III over the Mamasapano clash in 2015.

The ombudsman's office filed its information or charge sheet against Aquino before the Sandiganbayan for the deaths of more than 60 people, including 44 police Special Action Force commandos,in a firefight in remote Mamasapano town in January 2015.

The Office of the Ombudsman recommends bail of P30,000 for graft and P10,000 for usurpation, respectively. 

On July 14, Aquino was charged in violation of Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Section 3 (a) of the Repubic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

LOOK: Portions of the graft & usurpation cases filed by @OmbudsmanPh vs Aquino @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/hzkRj80m0D

— Elizabeth T. Marcelo (@marcelo_beth) November 8, 2017

On September 5, the Office of the Ombudsman junked the motion for reconsideration filed by Aquino and has upheld its decision finding probable cause to charge the former president.

The Mamasapano clash happened in the wake of a covert SAF operation against international terrorists hiding in a remote town in Maguindanao province.

 — with a report from Elizabeth Marcelo