FORMER president Benigno Aquino 3rd did not show up in Friday’s scheduled arraignment for his graft and usurpation of authority cases in connection with the botched Mamasapano raid in January 2015.

The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division deferred to February 15 his arraignment as well as the pretrial of the cases against former Philippine National Police (PNP) director general Alan Purisima.

ALL ALONE Disgraced former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima appears before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court for a hearing on his graft and usurpation case in connection with the January 2015 Mamasapano raid. His ex-boss, former president Benigno Aquino 3rd, was a no-show. PHOTO BY RUY L. MATINEZ

Aquino’s lawyer Romeo Fernandez said he thought the Sandiganbayan would tackle only the motion to quash the charges filed by the former president.

Aquino’s presence was not required in the hearing on the motion to quash, he said.

Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Fernandez also said he was unaware that the arraignment was also scheduled on Friday.

The 39-page motion to quash said the Ombudsman’s charge sheet failed to state a violation of the Revised Penal Code and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and was filed “without authority.”

“As exhaustively discussed, when Oplan Exodus was devised and implemented, sole executive power was vested in Mr. Aquino under Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. He likewise had the duty to ensure that all laws are faithfully executed, and accordingly, ensure the arrest of the internationally wanted Marwan and Basit Usman.

He had not been removed from office by way of impeachment, which, under the Constitution, is the only way by which his powers of control and supervision over the Executive Department, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), and the PNP could be taken away from him,” the defense said in the motion.

“All of these acts fell squarely within Mr. Aquino’s powers, functions, and prerogatives as then President of the Philippines, and therefore, cannot be deemed as criminal acts. The [charges], therefore, must be quashed for accusing Mr. Aquino of acts which are actually justified and legal under the circumstances,” the defense said.