97 former trainees may be called in Army general's probe

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 97 former candidate soldiers may testify in connection with the investigation on a Philippine Army general for possible court martial for allegedly asking money from them in exchange for enlistment into the organization. In an interview, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the 97 were part of the 150 male candidate soldiers allowed by Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto, former commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City, to undergo training preparatory for their possible enlistment. Barbieto and S/Sgt. Roseller Echipare are facing investigation into allegations that they asked the applicants between P25,000 to P30,000 purportedly in exchange for favorable results in their enlistment. "These things would be asked of them in due time. That is precisely what the investigation is looking at in the case of Gen. Barbieto and Sgt. Echipare…that is what we are going to establish," Torres told reporters. The Philippine Army had ordered the arrest and confinement of Barbieto and Echipare. They are facing investigation for possible violation of the Articles of War and before the Office of the Ombudsman for graft. A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1974, Barbieto is the highest military officer be investigated for graft after then Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia (PMA 1971) was subjected to court martial proceedings in 2004. Garcia was subsequently convicted for violating Articles of War 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman) and 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline). Barbieto is a classmate of retiring AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Termination of training Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, Army commanding general and incoming military chief, has ordered the termination of the training of the 97 candidate soldiers after an initial investigation. Military probers had found out that of the 150 candidate soldiers, 20 were conditionally passed and only 33 were qualified for the training. Torres said the 97 were declared not qualified to undergo the training because they failed to meet the height requirements of 5’4" and they submitted fake birth certificates, among other violations. But Torres quickly stressed that it has yet to be determined if the 97 candidate soldiers paid for their enlistment. "Since their order (for training) had been already terminated, the military cannot compel them to testify but they may be asked to give their statements to shed light on the case," Torres said. On whether the 97 would be asked as witnesses against Barbieto, Torres said: "I don’t want to pre-empt the actions of the investigating body." The pre-trial investigation against Barbieto and Echipare is being conducted by the Army’s Judge Advocate General. - GMANews.TV