AFP conducts internal probe against security personnel for Lim, Trillanes, and other Magdalo soldiers

By Ronron
December 3, 2007

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has conducted an internal probe on its personnel assigned to secure Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and other Magdalo members during the Makati City court hearing last November 29.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said Monday that the inquiry is being conducted by a board created at the National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM).

“The purpose of this (inquiry) is to identify what are the strengths as well as the weaknesses of the National Capital Region Command in the execution of (the security), from the site, from the court until such time that the incident was over,” he told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

NCRCOM spokesman Capt. Carlo Ferrer said in a phone interview that the initial finding of the board of inquiry is a lapse that resulted in the entry of a firearm inside the Makati City Hall building where the court is located.

Ferrer said a caliber 45 was found to be used by a supporter of Trillanes to point at the military security personnel while they were leaving the building premises. He said under the rules, there should be no firearm inside the building.

Ferrer said those investigated are more than 100 personnel from the Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Army.

“Definitely, those found responsible (for the lapses) will be punished… The minimum is reprimand, the maximum is dismissal from service,” Ferrer said.

“We are looking at possible violations or infractions of the Articles of War, so at this point in time, it’s too early to state what are their violations,” Bacarro said for his part.

Ferrer clarified, however, that the investigation was still ongoing as of Monday afternoon.

Bacarro said they are not discounting the possibility that the probe could later recommend for revised security arrangements for the accused Magdalo officers and the group of Lim at Tanay, Rizal.

But both Bacarro and Ferrer said that the security personnel have definitely not turned their loyalty to Trillanes and Lim, saying that they just claimed to have allowed Trillanes and Lim to march to “avoid collateral damage,” especially civilians.

Meanwhile, Bacarro announced that except for the NCRCOM, the AFP has already downgraded last Sunday noon its alert level from red to blue.

In fact, to prove that the situation has already normalized, Bacarro said AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. was pushing through with his trip to Malaysia late Monday./DMS