AN Army junior officer whose house yielded guns and methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) during a search by anti-illegal drugs operatives over the weekend will be investigated by the Army leadership for his possible involvement in illegal-drugs operation.
Army Spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao said they would investigate the activities of Major Suharto Tambidan Macabuat, 40, who was arrested on Saturday by combined teams of policemen and members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), after his house yielded several firearms and “large quantity” of shabu.
Operatives backed by a search warrant swooped down on Macabuat’s house in Cagayan de Oro, where they seized firearms and drugs.
“We are now initiating an investigation on the matter,” Hao said.
“The Army will not tolerate any of its personnel involved in illegal-drugs operation,” he added.
Only recently, Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano ordered a surprise drug testing of soldiers assigned at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in line with the efforts of the National Police to rid its ranks of drug users.
Hao said the Army will cooperate with authorities in the case of the Army junior officer.
“If there is any evidence that will show Macabuat is linked with illegal-drug operation, he will be referred to either the military court martial or the Army’s Efficiency and Separation Board [ESB],” Hao said.
“This is without prejudice to the possible criminal cases that will be filed against him,” he added.
Based on Army records, Macabuat is married to Haj Johairah Bagumbung Macabuat, a businessman. They have one child.
Macabuat was commissioned as 2Lt. and was called to active duty in 2001.
Meanwhile, Medal of Valor awardee Colonel Noel S. Buan and some 1,000 reservists voluntarily submitted to a drug testing at the Headquarters AFP Reserve Command on Saturday.
Buan, the acting AFP deputy chief of staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs, joined AFP Reserve Command Chief Brig. Gen. Leoncio A. Cirunay Jr. in the drug testing.
“Brig. Gen. Cirunay and I would like to set an example to our reservists,” Buan said.
Buan was awarded the Medal of Valor for his acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty during a one hour and half- encounter against an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf terrorists under Cmdr. Hamsiraji Sali at Barangay Makiri in Lantawan, Basilan, on April 8, 2004.
The AFP Reserve Command joined the AFP Procurement Service, AFP Command and General Staff College and the AFP Headquarters Service Command as drug-free units.
The drug testing of officers and personnel of the military is in support of the government’s all-out campaign against illegal drugs.