SOLDIERS belonging to the Philippine Army have been accused of harassment driven by retaliation for a vehicular accident.
The soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division (ID) are in “hot water” over the said accident that took place in Gingoog City recently.
Major Noli P. Kanashiro, 4th ID spokesperson, identified the soldier involved as Private First Class Olicito Tubos, a member of the 8th Infantry Batallion, under the supervision of Lieutenant Dante S. Soriano.
Initial investigation showed that Tubos, while on his way home with his daughter on board a motorcycle, accidentally bumped a motorela plying Barangay 18-A. Instead of tackling the incident peacefully, a traffic police identified as Bobong Cuerdo, a certain Police Officer 3 Bachenista and bystanders nearby reportedly ganged up on Tubos, hitting the latter's lower back.
Reports reaching Kanashiro's office said that Tubos and other unidentified soldiers allegedly harassed a police station in Gingoog last October 9 at around 7 p.m., apparently as a retaliation for an earlier incident.
No one was reported hurt in the alleged harassment. In a statement, Kanashiro said he was saddened about the incident and warned the soldiers involved that 4th ID "would not tolerate any transgressions against anybody committed by troops" under its command, "nor hesitate to impose sanctions to troops involved based on the result of the investigation."
"Despite (Tubos's) justification, the 4ID will still continue to investigate and impose disciplinary actions against the army men (allegedly involved in said harassment) if found guilty," said Kanashiro.
Lieutenant Colonel Maurito L. Licudine, commanding officer of 8th Infantry Battalion (IB), has relieved Lieutenant Soriano from the position of commanding officer.
It was learned that Soriano was with other soldiers involved in the alleged harassment. He transferred to the 8th IB headquarters stationed in Maramag town, Bukidnon, pending investigation. (LSM/PR)
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