Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Air Force personnel could face court martial proceedings over illegal drugs operation

By Ronron
March 10, 2008

A Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel could face court martial proceedings after he was caught on Sunday morning participating in an illegal drugs operation in Batangas province, the PAF commander said on Monday.

Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog said Sgt. Joel Bua-o, a resident of Barangay Banay-banay, Lipa City, will be slapped with appropriate charges under the military justice system after he was caught "repacking shabu" in Barangay San Carlos of said city.

The apprehension was made at around 6am the other day (Sunday) by local policemen.

Cadungog said Bua-o, 29, who is assigned with the Air Education and Training Command based in Fernando Airbase in Lipa City, was caught doing the alleged illegal act with three civilians inside a room in Meadow Lodge in Barangay San Carlos.

Authorities recovered from them 13 pieces of rolled aluminum foil used for sniffing, four pieces of disposable lighter, a bundle of plastic sachet, a glass pipe, a roll of aluminum foil, a pair of scissors, and five pieces of rectangular transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.

"He (Bua-o) will be harshly punished according to our Articles of War and military justice system. If there are others positively found as implicated, they will also equally face the harsh application of our penal system," Cadungog told reporters.

Cadungog said Bua-o remains under the custody of the Lipa City police pending the filing of charge against him and his three civilian cohorts for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The recovered pieces of evidence were already submitted to the PNP Crime Laboratory for examination.

"How I wish I could impose the punishment but we have to follow the law also. Rest assured, he can't get away from his wrong doing," Cadungog said of Bua-o./DMS

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