Army officer under court martial trial for ‘attempted pilferage’

MANILA, Philippines – A military officer is being tried by a general court martial on a charge of “attempted pilferage” of fuel resources.

Colonel Aguinaldo Obal, former chief of Logistics at the Army’s First Infantry Division based in Zamboanga del Sur, was charged with violations of Articles of War 96 (Conduct of Unbecoming of an Officer and a Gentleman) for attempted pilferage of fuel worth over P100,000, said First Infantry Division Commander Major General Ricardo Rainier Cruz Tuesday.

Cruz said he had ordered Obal investigated about five months ago when they found out certain records of the resources had been tampered.

The court martial is headed by Colonel Michael Lowell Chiong.

Obal was relieved from his post as chief of logistics and was reassigned as executive officer of the Army’s 101st Brigade.

“Duty pa rin sya…Kasi hindi pa naman sya guilty e..Pag found guilty sya pwede syang matanggal sa serbisyo (He’s still in active duty because he is not yet proven guilty. If found guilty he could be removed from the service),” Cruz said.