Military court clears Army man of molestation charges

An Army lieutenant who was accused of sexually molesting the wife of his mistah (classmate) at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) two years ago in Zamboanga City has been cleared by a military tribunal. Lt. Col. Marlo Guloy can now be restored to full active duty status following his exoneration by the Army general court martial presided by Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Palmea, said Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade on Sunday. Guloy was accused of violating Articles of War 96 and 97, or Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and a Gentleman, and Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline, respectively. In her affidavit, the complainant alleged that Guloy, a member of PMA class 1990 and was last assigned at the Army’s Intelligence Security Group, molested her at the La Vista del Mar Beach and Restaurant in Zamboanga City on May 3, 2008. The complainant, who admitted that she was drunk that time, said she went to the resort on Guloy’s invitation. She said she resisted Guloy’s acts but was too weak to stop him. Parlade said the military court found “serious deficiencies" in the victim’s testimony. He did not elaborate. The decision of the military court came out Aug. 26 but is not yet deemed final pending the approval of Army chief Maj. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, whose office will review the case. The Office of the Ombudsman had earlier dismissed the same case filed against Guloy. Guloy, however, is still facing the same charges before the Zamboanga City prosecutor’s office and the military’s Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA), where the supposed victim also filed complaints. “[The complainant] filed four complaints. The Ombudsman has dismissed [it] and the GCM (general court martial) has issued a resolution. Still pending are the resolution of Zamboanga (prosecutor’s office) and OESPA," Parlade said. - KBK, GMANews.TV