THE 4th Infantry Division (4ID) has created a Board of Inquiry to investigate the gun heist initiated by a lawless armed group and their cohorts which include two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) in Kibonkog, San Fernando, Bukidnon.
The armed group, composed of 8 people and led by Aldie Salusad also known as "Butchoy, Rodel, Gitgit, Bart" carted away a total of 14 firearms from an Army Patrol Base.
Salusad is a former rebel and known for being an illegal mining operator in the area. His Cafgu cohorts were identified as Cafgu Active Auxiliary (CAA) Ruben Subuan and CAA Malone Dandalan.
First Lieutenant Tere Ingente, 4ID spokesperson said that around 11am on Thursday, November 15, Salusad with his 8 cohorts went to the patrol base and pretended to get access to telecommunications signal in order to contact his father, Ben Salusad Alias Loloy/Nonong, a former New People's Army (NPA) commander and is currently detained at Cagayan de Oro City Jail.
In good faith, Sergeant Junio, the assistant patrol base commander, who was with Dalandan at the time, accommodated them and allowed their entry inside the camp, since it was the only area where the telecom signal was available.
Upon entry, Salusad however immediately pointed his firearm to Junio, who also immediately hogtied by Dalandan.
The armed group was able to steal 2-R4 riffles; 8-M16 rifles; 1-carbine; 4-garand rifle; 1-Harris Radio, cellular phone of CAAs, BDA uniforms and combat packs.
Ingente said the 88th Infantry Battalion together with the Bukidnon police are conducting pursuit operations to track down the lawless armed men.
According to Ingente, Salusad is a former NPA commander who surrendered last October 1, 2010 to 403rd Infantry Brigade, bringing along 2-M16 riffles and 12 long magazine loaded with ammunition, 1 handheld radio and subversive documents. He is currently facing multiple murder cases.
"The 4th Infantry Division already organized a Board of Inquiry to investigate other prevailing circumstances that led to the heist of such firearms. Further, 4ID assures that proper sanctions will be given to all personnel that were involved and proven its neglect of duty," she added.