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THE
command judge advocate of the Army recommended on Monday
the trial by general court martial of a division
commander and a sergeant for violations of the Articles
of War.
Recommended for trial by general court martial are Maj.
Gen. Jose Barbieto, suspended commander of the Army’s
4th Infantry “Diamond” Division based in Cagayan de Oro
City, and one of his trusted men, SSgt. Roseller
Echipare.
Gen.
Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff, is
expected to convene the general court martial before he
retires on May 5.
The Army
command judge advocate earlier recommended to the Army
commander, Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, the filing of
charges against Barbieto and Echipare, after agreeing
with the recommendation of the pretrial investigation
panel that investigated them on allegations of personnel
and resources mismanagement.
The
convening of the court-martial body was coursed through
Esperon owing to Barbieto’s rank as a major general.
Under the Articles of War, general court martial for
generals and flag officers are formed at the Armed
Forces general headquarters, with the chief of staff as
the convening authority.
The
judge advocate recommended Barbieto’s and Echipare’s
trial on charges of violating Article of War 55 (Officer
Making Unlawful Enlistment), Article of War 96 (Conduct
Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman) and Article of
War 97 (Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military
Discipline).
Earlier,
the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension for six
months without pay of Barbieto and Echipare after it
received complaints for graft and other criminal charges
against the two.
Several
individuals who applied for enlistment claimed that they
were asked to pay certain amounts to the former division
commander through Echipare in order to be taken in
although they are not qualified.
Other
complainants, who are former Army personnel, also
alleged that they were asked to pay certain amounts in
exchange for reenlistment. Soldiers are reenlisted every
three years.
In
compliance with the order, Yano immediately suspended
Barbieto and Echipare on March 6, 2008, and ordered an
investigation into the complaints against them.
The two
are now restricted to quarters at Fort Bonifacio, the
Army headquarters. They are in the custody of Brig. Gen.
Ricardo Morales, the post commander.
Lt. Col.
Ernesto Torres, Army spokesman, said Yano has assured
that the case against the two will be pursued.
Meanwhile, an Abu Sayyaf Group hunter has been appointed
as the new commander of the elite First Scout Ranger
Regiment.
Torres
said Col. Noel Caballes, commander of the 103rd Infantry
Brigade based in Eastern Mindanao, replaced Brig. Gen.
Reynaldo Mapagu, who was designated chief of staff of
the Army.
Caballes,
a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1980,
was Esperon’s personal choice as Mapagu’s successor. |
