Reyes orders probe of weapons sales to rebels

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes ordered yesterday Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya to probe the allegations of two Marine captains that military officials have been selling arms and ammunition to rebels and other anomalies in the armed services.

"I have ordered the AFP to investigate this serious matter, how it transpired, who are those involved," Reyes said in a statement.

"It is best that we all get to the bottom of this right away so that charges can be filed against those responsible for those treasonous acts," Reyes said.

However, Reyes said he was not the Armed Forces chief when the alleged incident took place in 1997, but Gen. Arnulfo Acedera.

"I was not the CSAFP at that time nor was Gen. Roy Cimatu the Southcom commander when the alleged incident took place in 1997, I was on assignment in Northern Luzon as (Army) 5th Infantry Division commander," he said

Military records show the Southcom chief in 1997 was Lt. Gen. Romeo Padiernos, he added.

At the same time, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. asked Senate President Franklin Drilon to place Marine Captains Danilo Luna and Yuri Pesiganin under the Senate’s protective custody after they made the charges at a Senate investigation on Monday.

"I understand that Captain Pesigan will testify on other anomalies being committed by certain elements within the structure of the Department of National Defense," he said.

"In this connection, may I request that Captain Luna and Captain Pesigan, who fear for their lives, be placed in the protective custody of the Senate as vital, material witnesses or under any agency which can extend protection against any attempt on their lives," Pimentel added.

Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio said Luna and Pesigan are "restricted to camp" after their names appeared in the list of junior military officers who took part in the July 27 "Magdalo" mutiny.

"Since they did not join the Oakwood mutiny, they are simply restricted and they have to ask permission if they have to leave the camp," he said.

But the two Marine captains were presented by Pimentel to reporters at the Senate to reveal what they know about anomalies in the Armed Forces.

The two officers, who were in civilian clothes and accompnaied by their lawyers, relayed replies to questions from media through Pimentel.

Luna said while they fear for their lives and their families, they are ready to reveal the information they have to bring back the focus of the Senate inquiry on the complaints of the Magdalo mutineers.

The Senate inquiry has been sidetracked by various issues, such as the refusal of the Armed Forces high command to present leaders of the mutiny to the Senate, and the coup charges filed against Sen. Gregorio Honasan, they added.

Drilon said he will ask the Department of Justice to place Luna and Pesigan, who are stationed at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City, under the government’s Witness Protection Program.

He had issued a subpoena for Luna and Pesigan to appear and testify before a Senate inquiry on the failed July 27 military uprising on Thursday, he added.

Luna said he was commanding the 17th Marine company in Jolo, Sulu on Dec. 28, 1997, when he received an order from the 3rd Marine Brigade to provide light armored support and back up security to Marines for a supposed "logistic run" or delivery of arms and ammunition.

"For purposes of the said armor support and back-up security, I was ordered to report at 1200 for briefing," read the affidavit.

"Together with my crew, I reported to the Tactical Operations Center at 11:30 and to my surprise, no briefing was held. Instead, I was ordered to be on standby and be ready to provide back-up support once called upon to do so."

Luna said that at 5:30 p.m., Lt. Col. Lorenzo Dimaunahan ordered him to bring two light armored vehicles and link up in convoy with two M-35 trucks carrying an undetermined number of troops.

"As ordered, I was made to understand that the logistics run would be destined for headquarters of the (Marine Battalion Landing Team) 4," read the affidavit.

"At the location of the M35 trucks, I was not able to confer nor talk with drivers of the non-commissioned officers because they had separate orders to proceed once the light armored vehicles were in sight."

Without radio contact, he followed the trucks, with a mini cruiser at the head of the convoy, he added.

Luna said he was surprised when the convoy passed the Marine headquarters and sped towards Seit Higad near the residence of Bagis.

Luna said he checked the trucks and found several hundred rounds of 81-mm. mortar cartridge HE, 60-mm. mortar cartridge HE, 90-mm. recoilless rifle cartridge HE, 57-mm. rocket launchers cartridge HE, several thousand rounds for caliber .50 and various other types of ammunition.

Later, he saw Elardo transfer the guns and ammunition to Bagis, he added.

Luna said he reported the matter to the Marine Intelligence Detachment at Camp Bautista in Busbos, Jolo, specifically to a certain Sgt. Abiding, and later to Capt. George Fernandez, officer-in-charge of the Marine Intelligence Detachment in Zamboanga City.

But Luna said nothing came out of the investigation and that his operations officer told him that the mission was sanctioned by Southcom.

Pimentel said Luna and Pesigan, who are not graduates of the Philippine Military Academy, have decided to come out in the open because they have personal knowledge of anomalies involving Reyes and other ranking officials of the Armed Forces.

Luna and Pesigan have not gone AWOL but their superiors are allegedly trying to make it appear they have deserted their posts to silence them, he added.