THE Ombudsman the other day filed a graft case against former President Benigno Aquino 3rd for, in her words, “utilizing the services”—for the police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in January 2015 that led to the massacre of 44 police commandos—of Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima when he was under suspension at the time.

What a clever way for Aquino to escape justice.The Ombudsman’s charge is like, if ever, US authorities charging the New York terrorist who mowed eight people to death with a rented truck solely with reckless driving.As relatives of the Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who were killed have pointed out—and are planning to ask the Supreme Court to order the Ombudsman to do—Aquino should be charged with 44 counts of criminal imprudence resulting in homicide.