Some three columns back we harped a little on the status of the case of a Philippine Army General. The ranking Army official was accused of masterminding the shooting to death of a woman in front of her residence in a subdivision in Mintal, Davao City.
There were two venues where the cases were filed. The administrative one was with the Special General Court Martial (GCM) of the Philippine Army, and the other – the criminal case – is with the civilian court in Davao City.
Administratively charged with the Army General were several other officials of the Army, including a Lieutenant Colonel. The rest, those found guilty by the military court included, were of lower ranks. And the verdict of the GCM?
Well, the 1-star general and three other officers were acquitted of violating Article of War No. 96 which is conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. The acquittal was based by the military court on the “lack of evidence” against the Army General and the three other accused, as well as on the retraction of the self-confessed suspect on his implication of the General and the three other Army officials.
Unfortunately for the three others acquitted, their criminal cases in the civilian court still remain. It is only the General who seems to have all the luck considering that he is not among those who’ll continue to face criminal charges in the civilian court.
So, the likelihood, the Lt. Colonel and the two others will remain in detention unless they are allowed to post bail.
In acquitting the four senior Army officers of the crimes charged, the Army in a statement from its spokesperson said that in rendering its decision the General Court Martial of the Army “reaffirms its commitment to justice.”
We are happy to know that the decision which was rendered two years and a half after the commission of the crime finally came to the public knowledge. And we are elated even more when the Army claimed that in coming out with the verdict the military court’s proceedings manifested its “unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law.”
There is however one question that needs to be answered by the family of the victim. Are they happy with the decision of the Court Martial? If they are was the cause of their happiness the verdict itself, or something else?
But is a mere reprimand for the officers for their violation of Article 96 of the Articles of War enough cause for the victim’s family to be happy?
With the exoneration of the top accused and the three other officers by the General Court Martial, will not the criminal cases in the civil court be weaken to the maximum? Is the General Court Martial verdict a foreboding of what is expected to come after the trial of the criminal cases in the civilian court?
We thought earlier that only policemen are blessed with certain privileges when they become suspects of crimes instead. Members of the military have theirs too.
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Now we know we were correct in our looking at then P/Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III as a potential replacement of outgoing PNP Director General Rommel Francisco Marbil.
We started looking at Torre as the possible successor when he boldly carried out the service of the Warrant of Arrest of then fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church leader Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. Torre appeared fearless even in the face of legal threats against him and the adverse reactions of Quiboloy’s influential close friends led by no less than former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Despite harsh criticisms on his action he persisted on carrying out the court-mandated arrest, though he was accused of carrying out an order from the President whose relationship with the Dutertes was getting sour.
Again, when Torre, already a 2-star general, implemented the arrest order issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the former President, he did it with hardly any sign of hesitation. The General was labelled with all kinds of negative descriptions on his person. Yet he remains unperturbed.
Now whether he was implementing the ICC arrest order on direct instruction from the President, or simply doing his duty based on the mandate of his position, we have no idea.
Apparently, the more knowledgeable observers including his direct superiors could have found in Torre the uncompromising officer when it comes to the performance of his duties and responsibilities.
Call it reward or whatever, but how he’ll carry out his mandate as the new PNP chief will determine his place in the history of the country’s police organization..
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