THE Army personnel abducted by rebels for 17 days admitted to have possessed shabu as earlier accused by the New People's Army (NPA) when accosted in Kapalong, Davao del Norte last May 3.
Corporal Rogelio Rosales of the Army's 60th Infantry Battalion was accosted by the NPA in Barangay Florida, Kapalong. One sachet of suspected shabu was found in his possession.
The rebel group said Rosales was in the process of arranging for the transit of logs when apprehended by the NPA.
The NPA earlier accused Rosales, who was considered a prisoner of war (POW), of coddling and protecting massive logging in Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte provinces.
In an interview after his release Monday, Corporal Rosales denied that he was coddling illegal loggers but admitted that the shabu was his.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the NPA rebels presented to him the shabu sachet they recovered from Rosales's possession. Duterte in turn relayed the information to the military officials.
Rosales was released in Talaingod, Davao del Norte Monday noontime.
Major General Ariel Bernardo of the 10th Infantry Division, meanwhile, said that he already ordered for Rosales to undergo drug test and should he be found positive, the released POW will be outrightly discharged from service. (BOT)