THE military assured there will be no whitewash in their investigation on the involvement of a soldier in a shooting incident in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte on Tuesday.

It was learned that the soldier, identified as Corporal Arnold Toriano, was suspected to be behind the death of a policeman and two civilians at Feeder Road 3, Tibal-og earlier that day.

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In a statement, 10th Infantry Division commander Major General Reynaldo Mapagu ordered for an in-depth investigation on the incident that transpired involving their soldiers and assured the public that there will be no "whitewash" on the result of the investigation.

Responding policemen from Sto. Tomas police killed Toriano who was said to be the suspect for the death of Police Officer 2 Prex Rasonabe, businessman Arnel Consincino, and two other unidentified civilians.

Toriano, assigned with Army's 72nd Infantry Battalion, allegedly lobbed grenade at the victims that resulted to their death.
Mapagu also ordered an investigation on 11 soldiers who reportedly retrieved the body of Toriano from the crime scene.

It was learned that Toriano informed his direct superior identified as First Lieutenant Heriberto Sanggalang that he is having an encounter with armed men. Sanggalang, with the desire to provide assistance to the beleaguered Toriano, immediately organized a team composed of soldiers under 60th Infantry Battalion and rushed to the scene.

Sanggalang was said to be unaware of the circumstances surrounding the incident but nevertheless took Toriano's body, which led to a tense situation between the military and the policemen present in the area.

The body was later brought to the headquarters of 60th IB based at Dona Andrea Asuncion, Davao del Norte.

The military said that their initial investigation showed that Sanggalang admitted that Toriano never mentioned what group of armed men he encountered until the former learned that the latter was chased by the police for the alleged involvement in the killings.

Colonel Joel Ibanez, 1003rd brigade commander, upon knowing the actuations of the soldiers, immediately directed Lieutenant Colonel Adriano Perez Jr. of the 60th IB to arrest the soldiers and bring them to Sto. Tomas police with Toriano's body.

Perez accompanied the soldiers to police headquarters, and their statements were taken by the investigating team of the police.

"Lieutenant Sanggalang failed to coordinate with the police of his actions when he recovered Toriano's body," Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Bautista, spokesperson of 10th ID, said.

"He (Sanggalang) is now under preventive custody of his battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Tan, while the soldiers are under the custody of Lieutenant Colonel Perez. They will be made available, if required, by the police for further investigations," he said.

"Major Gen. Mapagu also instructed the Inspector General of 10th ID to conduct an investigation to look into the administrative liabilities of those involved as the police determine their criminal liabilities," added Bautista.

Mapagu also ordered for the relief of Tan as the commander of 72nd IB while the investigation is ongoing.

Likewise, Sanggalang was also relieved effective Wednesday and was confined to the 10th ID barracks in Camp Panacan, Davao City.

"Despite my specific guidance of giving utmost importance to discipline and respect for human rights, there are still soldiers who deviate from this instruction, resulting to negative perception of the public on the 10th ID as a whole. I will not hesitate to discharge those involved if found guilty of violating the provisions under Articles of War," Mapagu said.

As part of the thrusts of Mapagu on the Discipline, Law, and Order of the military troops, the command implemented punishments to erring personnel like in the case of Private First Class Gary Silverio of 25th IB, who was implicated in a robbery case, the latter was summarily discharged from the military service effective June 10 this year.

From the time Mapagu assumed command as the 10th ID chief, a total of 12 personnel were already demoted while 29 were discharged from the service for committing various offenses. (BOT)