THE Philippine Army (PA) has taken into custody former Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Jesus Durante Jr. after he was identified as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Davao-based businesswoman-model Yvonette Chua Plaza.

In a radio interview, PA chief Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner said Durante was relieved from his post as brigade commander of 1001st Brigade under the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) to ensure impartial investigation on the matter.

“Hindi po natin tino-tolerate ‘yung mga ganitong wrongdoings o itong criminal acts, kahit na ano pong ranggo ng ating mga sundalo, maging opisyal or enlisted personnel ay parepareho po ‘yung treatment natin sa kanila,” he said.

(We do not tolerate these wrongdoings or these criminal acts, regardless of the rank of our soldiers, whether they are officers or enlisted personnel, we treat them the same.)

“So nung nalaman po natin na meron pong report nga ganito at person of interest si General Durante at kaagad-agad nag-conference po kami and then we decided na tanggalin muna siya sa puwesto niya bilang commander ng 1001st Brigade so that ‘yung investigation po ay magiging impartial and thorough, SOP (standard operating procedures) naman po yan,” he added.

(So when we found out that there was a report like this and that General Durante was a person of interest, we immediately had a conference and then we decided to first remove him from his position as commander of the 1001st Brigade so that the investigation would be impartial and thorough. That is standard operating procedure.)

Brawner said Colonel Michael Licyayo, who was tagged by the police as one of Durante’s accomplices in Plaza’s execution, was also taken into custody while the other implicated military personnel were under police custody.

Charges of murder, obstruction of justice and theft were filed against Durante, Licyayo, Staff Sergeant Gilbert Plaza, Corporals Adrian Cachero, Rolly Cabal and Romar Longakit, Sergeant Sialsa, civilian Noel Hapitan and two other “John Does” over Plaza’s killing on December 28.

The Special Investigation Task Group Plaza (SITG) tagged the killing as a “crime of passion,” noting that based on the accounts of witnesses, Plaza has sensitive information against Durante and she uses it to blackmail him.

A laptop containing contacts, intimate photos and email messages directed at Durante were recovered from Plaza’s house where the killing took place.

The SITG said Durante gave Licyayo the order to “liquidate” plaza while the latter tapped the other military personnel involved.

Cachero served as the motorcycle rider while Sialsa was the gunman.

Brawner said administrative charges have also been filed before the military’s court martial.

“Of course we will respect the judicial system. Meron po tayong proseso din sa military justice system natin na sasampahan rin po sila ng kaso under the military justice system, magkakaroon ng court martial and we will have custody over them. Meron po tayong custodial center, parang kulungan din. Posible na mapunta po sila dun for their safekeeping habang dinidinig po ‘yung kaso nila,” he added.

(Of course we will respect the judicial system. We also have a process in our military justice system where they will also be charged under the military justice system, there will be a court martial and we will have custody over them. We also have a custodial center like a jail. It is possible that they will end up there for their safety while their case is being heard.)

The PA chief, however, maintained that the implication of the said military officers is not service-related.

He denied assumptions that military commanders are treating the men under them as “private army.”

“’Yung mga sundalo naman po ay sinasabihan natin na hindi po dapat sumunod sa mga illegal orders ano katulad nito yung pagpatay ng isang tao, but then again kailangang i-establish yun ng korte, ‘yung aspeto po na inutusan po ni General Durante so I cannot really expound on that po… ang tinuturo natin sa mga sundalo, they have to be discerning kung ano po ‘yung legal na utos at ‘yung illegal,” said Brawner.

(As for the soldiers, we are telling them that they should not follow illegal orders like killing someone. Then again, the court has to establish that. That is the aspect that was ordered by General Durante. I cannot really expound on that. What we teach the soldiers is they have to be discerning with what is the legal order and what is illegal.) (SunStar Philippines)