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Monday, February 09, 2004
Lamitan 'war hero' censured, 4 others demoted
By Edwin G. Espejo
GENERAL SANTOS -- Four enlisted men belonging to 11th Special Forces Company of the First Scout Ranger Regiment were demoted while their commanding officer was heavily censured for their role in the mauling of Pedro Animas IV and two of his friends inside the Bula police station.
Demoted were Corporal Edwin Romero, Corporal Romulo Sumain and Privates First Class Rodrigo Husain and Jesus Moret.
Their commanding officer, Army captain Ruben Guinolbay, was strongly censured for the mauling incident that sparked strong protests from the City Government and authorities.
In a report, Maj. Gen. Allan Cabalquinto, operations chief of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Command, said Guinolbay, a Lamitan war hero, was castigated over his alleged "failure to control his men" during the incident.
The censure and demotion order also make the five Army personnel ineligible for promotion within one year of their demotion or censure.
Moreover, a similar offense could mete them summary dismissal from the government service.
Guinolbay led at least 25 of his men in storming the Bula police precinct where Animas, son of late Judge Pedro Animas Sr., was giving statements on another mauling incident inside Mamagaya Restaurant involving members of the Scout Ranger Regiment.
Inside the police station, Guinolbay and his men took turns manhandling Animas who ended up in a local hospital.
Animas had already filed criminal charges against the government soldiers.
Maj. Gen. Cabalquinto said the sanctions imposed on the five Scout Ranger soldiers would not preclude the charges now filed against them.
A source, however, said they could be dismissed from service if found guilty of the criminal charges Animas had filed.
Guinolbay earlier appeared before the City Council and apologized to the City Government.
He also asked members of the Council to withdraw the resolution declaring him and his men persona non grata.
The five soldiers are now under the custody of Division Provost Marshal of the 6th Infantry Division in Cotabato City.
(February 9, 2004 issue)
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