Army executive stripped of position

CAMP SIONGCO, Shariff Kabunsuan – An executive officer of an Army company contingent supposedly popular for its community relations program has been stripped of his position for manhandling several policemen inside the police station of Kabuntalan, Shariff Kabunsuan while under the influence of liquor.

The incident, which took place almost a week ago, sparked tension between the Shariff Kabunsuan provincial police and the Army’s 6th Infantry Battalion, where the suspect, 2Lt. Christopher Capuyan, belong.

Investigators at the Kabuntalan municipal police said a drunken Capuyan and his escorts arrived at their station and searched for their chief, Inspector Christian Palmon, and began manhandling policemen on duty after learning that Palmon was out.            

Lt. Col. Wilson Reyes, commander of the 6th IB, a unit of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said he has ordered the relief of Capuyan, now being probed for his reported misbehavior.

Reyes, in an interview with Catholic station dxMS here yesterday, said he has organized a team of investigators to determine the culpability of Capuyan, an executive officer of one of the companies under the 6th IB.

The 6th IB and all of its constituent-companies are popular for their active involvement in peace-building activities and humanitarian projects in communities within their immediate jurisdiction.

“Capuyan is now under my investigation, I assure you there will be no whitewash in the battalion level investigation,” Reyes said.

Palmon, citing sworn statements of his subordinates, Capuyan, allegedly maltreated them, said the Army officer and also ordered the policemen inside the station to do squat jumps and push ups.

To prevent any trouble, the outnumbered policemen simply obeyed.

“Ang mga nandoon sa station ay mga bagong recruit na mga pulis. Siguro di siya nakilalang isang opisyal. Magkaibigan kami at marahil ay pumunta siya sa amin para makipag-inuman,” Palmon said.

Reporters tried, but failed to reach Capuyan for comments.

Palmon said his subordinates also complained of having been stepped on their backs and heads by Capuyan as they lay on the ground.