3 soldiers in Basilan torture to face dismissal proceedings

The military has ordered dismissal proceedings against three Army soldiers, including a junior officer, who allegedly tortured a suspected Abu Sayyaf member over a week ago in Basilan. The three — Capt. Sherwin Guindangen, the intelligence officer of the Special Operations Task Group Basilan; Sgt. George Awing; and S/Sgt. Elmer Magdaraog — have been ordered relieved and placed on technical arrest last July 27 following the incident. A fourth soldier, Sgt. Edgardo Santos, however, was cleared from the charge of torturing Abdul Khan Ajid Balanting, who was arrested last July 23. The order for Guindangen, Awing and Magdaraog to undergo dismissal proceedings came from Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, chief of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command. “Western Mindanao commander General Ferrer has approved the recommendation of the investigating team of Wesmincom… finding sufficient grounds against [the three] with regards to violation of the anti-torture law," said AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez on Wednesday. Rodriguez said an Efficiency and Separation Board, either from the Wesmincom or from the Army, will be determining the fitness of Guindangen to remain in the service, while the two enlisted personnel will be facing summary dismissal proceedings. “The Efficiency and Separation Board will determine the fitness of Capt. Guidangen to remain in the service. If the ESB determines that he is no longer fit to be in the service, then they will recommend the discharge of Capt. Guindangen," said Rodriguez. “For the enlisted personnel, the summary proceedings will provide for the discharge of the enlisted personnel as provided in our standing operating procedures," he added. Rodriguez said Ferrer has also approved recommendations for the filing of charges against the three before a civilian court. He said Wesmincom will be coordinating with the Commission on Human Rights and Philippine National Police for the endeavor. Balanting, the alleged Abu Sayyaf member, was nabbed by SOTF-Basilan forces last July 23 in Libog village in Sumisip town. He was reportedly tortured at the headquarters of SOTF-Basilan then turned over to the local police after four days. An investigation was immediately ordered after Balanting’s examination in a hospital showed first-degree burns on his head, face, private parts, stomach and other parts of the body. His captors reportedly introduced gasoline inside his body using a bottle inserted in his anus. Rodriguez said the investigation is continuing to determine if other officers can be held liable for command responsibility. “That is another aspect that general Ferrer is really concentrating on — the aspect of command responsibility - and so the inquiry continues in that respect," he said. - KBK, GMA News