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Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Scalawags in uniform blamed for gun pilferage
By Claudine C. Dumalag
NATIONAL Defense Government Arsenal Director Eriberto Varona admitted the so-called “scalawags” in uniform are responsible for the sale of firearms and ammunition to rebel groups in Mindanao.
He, however, said “those are isolated incidents.”
His statement came after the failed mutiny over the weekend in Makati City that wasled by 10 junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The officers accused their superiors of selling firearms and ammunition, particularly to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf.
But Varona denied the officers’ claims.
The group, (referring to the Magdalo group) has no sufficient evidence to prove their claims, he said.
“This is a big, big, lie. As Director Arsenal since January 2000, please allow me to state for the information of the Filipino citizenry that we have never done this nor will do this,” Varona said.
He appealed to the public, particularly the soldiers, to come forward if they have personal knowledge of the alleged selling so that the necessary investigation can be made and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He said the ammunition could have landed on the enemies’ hands through encounters or possibly through the handiwork of some scalawags.
Varona added that the government arsenal “cannot and never did sell ammunition to the enemies of the state.”
However, he said that his office is willing to undergo an investigation, as they are sustaining their vigilance to make sure that the ammunition they produce do not fall into unauthorized hands.
President Arroyo has created an independent fact-finding commission to investigate the mutineers’ allegations.
The failed mutiny was participated in by 296 rebel-soldiers commanded by 70 junior officers led by Lt. Sg. Antonio Trillianes IV.
Two Negrosanons participated in the failed rebellion and are will be subjected to court martial. They were identified as Capt. Milo Maestrecampo, of Talisay City and Capt. Gary Alejano, of Sipalay City.
The other junior officers facing dismissal from the service because of their involvement in the failed mutiny are Lieutenant Senior Grade James Layug, of the Navy; Captains Gerardo Gambala, Laurence Louis Somera, Jose Enrico Demetrio Dingle, and Albert Baloloy; and 1st Lts. Laurence San Juan, Florentino Somera, and Warren Lee Dagupon, all of the Army.
(July 30, 2003 issue)
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