“Colonel,” companion arrested for illegal recruitment

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The illegal recruitment activities of a fake Army “colonel” for almost three years, finally ended.

Ricky Benasas, 38, who had been recruiting Army reservists for a fee, is now locked up in jail, after he and his companion identified by the police as retired Army Sergeant Romeo Salvosa were arrested Tuesday by the combined teams of the police and 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers at Barangay Balintawak, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Superintendent Leonardo Borromeo, Escalante City Police chief, said Benasas and Salvosa were engaged in the recruitment of Army reservists for a fee, and collecting money from the latter without the authority and approval of the 605th Community Defense Center, 6th Regional Community Defense Group of the Army Reserve Command.

Borromeo said Benasas, who already victimized 29 persons in Escalante City alone, were able to collect from them amounts ranging from P300 to P3,000 for military uniforms and food during the training, being paid on installment basis.

Retired Colonel Nathaniel Villasor, commander of the Army Ready- Reserve Battalion in Negros, yesterday clarified that Benasas is not connected with the Army Reserve Command.

The arrest of Benasas at Purok Tuburan in Barangay Balintawak yielded a .45-caliber pistol with a magazine containing six ammunition, a spare magazine with seven bullets, a cellular phone and fake identification cards of ARESCOM (Army Reserve Command), PhilHealth, UMID, TIN, SOF, Security Silence and ATM cards.

On the other hand, recovered from the possession of Salvosa were P520 in cash and a streamer with printed message, “WELCOME COL. RICKY BENASAS from ARMY RESERVIST BATCH -1 Escalante City.

Borromeo said Benasas even managed to initially convince some officers and enlisted personnel of the 62nd IB—stationed at Barangay Bato in Sagay City—from whom he had asked for gasoline ration to the motorcycle he was riding but owned by Salvosa, that he was an Army colonel.

Benasas was also observed to be demanding during his recent visit to the 62nd IB headquarters, Villasor said. Prior to the arrest of two suspects, Borromeo said they have received complaints from the Philippine Army on the illegal recruitment activities of Benasas.

Major Alex Elnar, executive officer of the 62nd IB, and several Army soldiers assisted the Escalante Police in the arrest of Benasas and Salvosa.

Borromeo said they already filed charges for illegal possession of firearms and usurpation of authority against Benasas, who is now locked up in jail.

Salvosa, who was also charged for usurpation of authority, however, was released Thursday from jail, after the lapse of the required period of detention. Charges for illegal recruitment, among others, were also being prepared by the police for filing against the two suspects. (FREEMAN)