Supreme Court TROs Sandiganbayan's Mamasapano case vs Aquino

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered the Sandibangayan to halt the proceedings against former President Benigno Aquino III and his executives over the 2015 Mamasapano incident.

The SC's First Division issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the court proceedings on the graft and usurpation of official function case against Aquino, former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former PNP-Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr. "until further notice from this court."

The SC enjoined the Office of the Ombudsman from proceeding with arraignment of the three accused.

The case stemmed from the 2015 operation in Mamasapano that resulted in the deaths of over 60 people, including 44 members of the elite police force.

The SC granted one of the reliefs prayed for by the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption and relatives of the slain SAF members in November last year.

Earlier on Friday, Aquino also filed a motion asking the anti-graft court to suspend the proceedings on criminal cases against him.

The former commander-in-chief cited his pending Motion to Quash Information that is yet to be resolved by the Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division.

Aquino pointed out that his co-accused, Napeñas and Purisima, also have their respective pending motions also asking to quash information that the anti-graft court has yet to resolve.

Calida hails SC decision

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a Manifestation supporting the appeal of the VACC on January 25.

Jose Calida, government's chief legal counsel, asked the SC to direct the Office of the Ombudsman to file 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide charges against Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas.

He said that the "people of the Philippines will suffer grave and irreparable injury in any injunctive relief is not issued" against the continuing proceedings against the respondents at the anti-graft court.

Calida took it to twitter to hail the SC's decision. He said: "This is the first step to hold those responsible for the senseless killing of the SAF 44."