Lacson calls conspiracy claim vs. Noynoy on Mamasapano ‘idiotic’

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the conspiracy claim against former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in relation to the 2015 Mamasapano clash is “idiotic.”

“Accusing a commander-in-chief of ‘conspiracy,’ leading to the Mamasapano carnage is not only a stretch. It's incomprehensible, even idiotic,” Lacson posted on his social media account Thursday night.

Accusing a commander-in-chief of "conspiracy", leading to the Mamasapano carnage is not only a stretch. It's incomprehensible, even idiotic.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) July 20, 2017

Lacson made the comment after the former President filed a motion for reconsideration on his indictment for graft and usurpation of authority over the Mamasapano incident, which killed more than 60 people, including 44 members of the elite PNP-Special Action Force (SAF).

In his appeal, Aquino denied that he acted in conspiracy with former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, and former Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas Jr.

Text messages between Aquino and Purisima showed the two were in touch about the Mamasapano operation despite the latter’s suspension at the time.

But Aquino argued that Purisima never acted as a PNP chief on the operation, saying his only involvement was “limited to being a mere resource person and subject matter expert” given his knowledge of Marwan.

The police operation, dubbed as Oplan Exodus, was to neutralize wanted terrorist Marwan or Zulkifli Bin Hir.

“Similarly, neither did I give any specific instructions to respondent Napeñas that he directly report to respondent Purisima. Whatever reporting he did, if he did report to Purisima, was his judgment call and was clearly made of his own volition -- and not because I ordered him to do so,” Aquino said. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ/KVD, GMA News