FILE PHOTO: Former Presidential Security Group chief Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante
MANILA, Philippines — Former Presidential Security Group chief Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante is now under the custody of the Philippine Army after being charged as the alleged mastermind in the murder of model Yvonnette Chua-Plaza.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. also confirmed on Thursday that Col. Michael Licyayo is likewise now under their custody.
“Sa ngayon po si Gen. Durante at si Col Licyayo ang nandito sa amin sa headquarters ng Philippine Army, ‘yung mga iba naman po … ay nandoon sa kustodiya ng Philippine National Police,” he said in a radio dzBB interview.
(At present, Gen. Durante and Col. Licyayo are here in the headquarters of the Philippine Army, while the others are in the custody of the Philippine National Police.)
According to Brawner, Durante, Licyayo and other military personnel involved in the killing of Plaza will also face administrative charges before a court martial.
READ: 8 Army officers face raps for Davao City model’s slay
“Sasampahan rin po sila ng kaso under the military justice system,” he said.
(They will likewise be charged under the military justice system.)
“Magkakaroon ng court martial and we will have custody over them, meron po tayong custodial center parang kulungan din, so posible na mapunta po sila dun for their safekeeping habang dinidinig po yung kaso nila,” he added.
(There will be a court martial and we will have custody over them, we also have a custodial center just like a prison, so it’s possible that they would stay there for their safekeeping during the hearing of their charges.)
Police Regional Office 11 earlier charged Durante, Licyayo, Cpl. Adrian Cachero, Cpl. Rolly Cabal, and Private Class Delfin Sialsa with murder.
It also charged Durante and Licyayo with obstruction of justice; Sialsa and Cachero with theft for allegedly taking the victim’s belongings, and Cabal and Noel Hapitan as murder accomplices.
Likewise, the named respondents were Staff Sgt. Gilbert Plaza (not related to the victim) and Cpl. Romart Longakit.
Yvonnette Chua-Plaza was fatally shot outside her Davao residence on December 29, 2022.