Soldiers accused of looting during Zamboanga crisis face court martial

Five soldiers accused of looting a councilor's house at the height of the Zamboanga City crisis last September will be held to account for their alleged actions, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday.

 

"Nasa court martial na... Court martial proceedings are ongoing," AFP spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said.

 

Zagala refused to name the five soldiers to protect their rights. Their names will only be released if they are convicted, he added.

 

The five soldiers were arrested for allegedly looting the house of Zamboanga City councilor BG Guingona in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga city.

 

Zagala said the court martial is part of the due process given to suspects.

 

"At the same time, this is our way of  finding out any...wrongdoing by any of our personnel. We do not tolerate that, and this is a mechanism we can use in order to instill discipline and prevent further acts," he said.

 

The looting allegedly happened as state troops were busy fighting rogue elements of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) holed up in areas of the city from September 9 to 28. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/JDS, GMA News