Soldiers’ ‘links’ with Abra pols probed

A five-man Army panel led by Inspector General Maj. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos is now in Abra to investigate allegations that soldiers deployed there have been moonlighting as armed escorts of local political warlords.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga sent the probe team in response to calls for the immediate replacement of the entire 41st Infantry Battalion assigned in Abra because its officers and men have allegedly become "too familiar" with local politicians maintaining private armed groups.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes, acting on the recommendation of PNP Task Force Abra, earlier asked the Armed Forces and the Department of National Defense to pull out the 41st IB and replace it with a new contingent.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, however, said he still has to study Reyes’ request before he can act on it.

Earlier, Reyes, in his capacity as chairman of the National Police Commission, relieved the entire Abra police force for its failure to address the growing lawlesness in the northern province.

"The Army leadership is seriously bent on looking into this issue (so it could) take the appropriate action, if warranted," said Maj. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro, Army spokesman.

The 41st IB is now headed by Lt. Col. Angelito de Leon, who replaced Lt. Col. Noel Mislang early this year.

Mislang was relieved from the post after two enlisted personnel accused him of masterminding a plot to kill Lagayan, Abra Mayor Cecilia Luna and members of her family.

The two soldiers, Corporals Eduardo Barcelona and Antonio Rosqueta, both intelligence agents of the 41st IB, quoted Mislang as saying that the governor, apparently referring to Abra Gov. Vicente Valera, had been pressuring him to carry out the slay plot. Valera has denied the allegation.

Barcelona and Rosqueta refused to follow Mislang’s alleged order and instead reported the matter to Army higher-ups.

But days after they did so, the two were ambushed while on their way to a supposed birthday party in Isabela. Rosqueta was killed in the attack.

Mislang is now facing charges in military and civilian courts.