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Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Tempers high after Rangers attack PNP station
By Edwin G. Espejo and Ben O. Tesiorna
GENERAL SANTOS -- Tempers are boiling, specifically among military officials, who are now caught in an embarrassing position after a group of Scout Rangers led by a junior officer stormed a police station Sunday evening to beat up three civilians who were there to complain against them.
AFP spokesman Col. Daniel Lucero said Tuesday the incident is a big blow to the efforts of the government in maintaining a stable peace and order situation especially here in Mindanao.
"Sa ganitong pangyayari ang talo ang ating gobyerno, both the AFP and the PNP. Ang panalo dito ay yung kalaban ng government eh. Instead na yung effort natin i-center natin sa pagresolba sa kaguluhan dyan ay sila pa mismo ang gumagawa ng gulo (In this situation government is in the loosing end, both the AFP and PNP. The enemies of the state won. Instead of focusing our effort of resolving war they are the ones causing disorder)," Lucero said.
Brig. General Alexander Yano, 601st Brigade commander, said the soldiers, led by Capt. Ruben Guinolbay were placed under restriction at the advance command post of the Light Armor Battalion headquarters in Barangay Baluan.
Yano also assured no whitewash in the investigation of the Sunday evening incident where members of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion stormed a local police station and mauled three persons, one of them a son of the late Judge Pedro Animas Sr.
"I have also directed the battalion commander (of the unit) to conduct his own investigation. I will not condone any wrongdoings by any of my men," Yano said.
"I will give them a fair trial and not a trial by publicity. We have the court. We are taking action for any administrative liability," Yano said.
Yano added they are still waiting for the formal complaints from the victims and would take appropriate actions against the erring soldiers once they are proven guilty.
He, however, appealed to the media here to be fair and not put the soldiers to trial by publicity.
"Let us give them a fair trial," he asked.
Yano has been known to be a strict disciplinarian and has repeatedly warned his men not to commit abuses.
At least 25 fully armed soldiers led by a certain Guinolbay stormed the Bula police precinct Sunday night and allegedly pointed their rifles to the policemen on duty after one of their companions figured in a fracas inside Mamagaya, a bar in Gen. Santos, police sources said.
Chief Insp. Maximo Layugan, Bula precinct commander, said Guinolbay and his men also reportedly mauled Pedro "Yoyoy" Animas V, son of the late Judge Pedro Animas Sr., and his companions, Valentin Delmo and Edgar Sanchez, who were inside the police station to give his account of the melee in Maagaya.
Animas and Sanchez are still confined at the General Santos Doctor's
Hospital while Delmo was discharged after he was treated at the emergency room.
Major General Generoso Senga, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, meanwhile assured the public that they would not condone the wrongdoings of their men.
Senga said he already directed Yano to do a separate investigation on the incident for the possible filing of administrative charges against the erring soldiers.
He said he also directed those involved to cooperate with the police investigation.
Senior Supt. Jorge Aquisap, director of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO), said they are going to pursue criminal and administrative cases against the Scout Rangers for their action.
Police investigations revealed that Sgt. Edwin Romero and several other Army soldiers, belonging to the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion, went inside the resto-bar to while away their time.
When Romero reportedly went inside the rest room, a certain Arnold Sotto reportedly punched him.
A commotion further ensued outside when the group of Animas arrived and saw the soldiers mauling Sotto.
When responding policemen arrived, Animas allegedly pointed to the Army soldiers as those who were involved in the brawl.
Police then invited Animas and his companions, Valentin Delmo and Edgar Sanchez, to the police precinct to give their statements, including that of the Army soldiers.
Romero, however, reportedly called up his commanding officer from the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion administrative office in Buayan.
Inside the police station, a heated exchange of words occurred between Animas and Guinolbay's men that led to the mauling of the victim.
Col. Edgardo Gurrea, commanding officer of Joint Task Force Gensan (JTFG) and deputy commander of the Army's 601st Brigade, disputed reports that the soldiers took over the Bula precinct.
"Dili na mahitabo while I'm the commanding officer of JTFG (That will not happen while I am still commanding officer of JTFG)," Gurrea said. He said he already talked with Aquisap about the incident.
Meanwhile, Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. said he expects Yano to impose punishment against the erring soldiers.
"It is wrong for them to maul the victims inside the police station," he said.
The Scout Ranger battalion was deployed in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat more than two months ago to augment several companies of soldiers and policemen who are tracking down Abu Sayyaf Group leader Khadaffy Janjalani.
The battle-tested soldiers were then on their way to Manila for retraining after spending several months in Lamitan, Sulu, when ordered to reinforce the government soldiers stationed in Palimbang.
The elite Army unit is under the operational control of Brigadier General Yano. With report from Peng Aliņo
(October 29, 2003 issue)
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