Army Provost Marshal to probe torture video

MANILA, Philippines -  The Army’s Provost Marshal will conduct a parallel probe on the alleged torture video involving soldiers in Bicol.

Armed forces Human Rights Office chief Col. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said the probe will push through even as the Army’s 9th Infantry Division (ID) began its investigation into the allegations.

Tutaan said the parallel investigation aims to promote independent verification on whether the soldiers involved in the malpractices have been punished.

“The Army Provost Marshal has been tasked to come up with an independent investigation on the matter to determine if sanctions (given) in the past were appropriate,” he said.

Tutaan said the findings of the Provost Marshal would be compared to that of the Army’s 9th ID, which has tapped its intelligence and training units to look into the incident. Col. Benedicto Jose heads the Army’s Provost Marshal Office.

“(The independent probe was ordered) to corroborate the investigation and have check and balance,” Tutaan said.

He said the 9th ID and the Army Human Rights Office are finalizing the results of their probe that would be submitted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief this week. 

“They are now finalizing the report on the inquiry. They are expanding the inquiry to determine the identities of those involved and determine command responsibility,” Tutaan said.

Tutaan gave assurance that there would be no whitewash on the investigations.

“That (preventing whitewash) is the reason why the Army has two investigating bodies,” he pointed out.

The video, which was uploaded to YouTube by a certain “isnaypmedia” showed military trainers beating recruits using sticks and ropes. The recruits seem to be shouting and grimacing in pain while the training is being conducted.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the 9th ID, said the video was taken during an “Escape and Evasion” exercise of recruits in 2008.

He said trainees were subjected to simulated physical pains to ensure that they would not reveal sensitive information to the enemy once they are captured. 

Cabunoc said the mobile phone video was taken by Pfc. Jayson Cerdon, who was killed by communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels during an encounter last August.

He said video was transferred to Gregorio Banares, spokesman of the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) in the Bicol region.

Cabunoc though admitted the use of ropes and sticks is not encouraged as they could inflict harm to the trainees.

He claimed the trainers involved in the incident have been sacked and were slapped with administrative sanctions.

The incident also prompted the Army to scrap the “Escape and Evasion” training in 2009. Military officials said the NPA might be using the controversy to malign the military.

Army chief Lt. Gen Arturo Ortiz has said that the controversy would not affect the military’s image and recruitment efforts.

“I think it will not affect (the military’s image) since the things shown in the video are not part of the program of instruction... we will assure the recruits that the things shown in the video are not happening,” Ortiz said in an interview last week.

Ortiz assured those who will enter the military service that they would not experience torture and other forms of abuse.