2 Army soldiers caught with illegal drugs, tagged in robbery

NAGA CITY, Philippines — Two Army soldiers caught driving a motorcycle without a license plate in a checkpoint in this city were caught in possession of illegal drugs and then identified in a police lineup by a complainant in a robbery case, police said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, officer-in-charge of the Naga Police Office, identified the suspects as Private First Class Fermin Sayno and Corporal Randy Ismael of the 31st Infantry Battalion based in Sipocot, Camarines Sur, 40 kilometers from this city.

Fajardo said Sayno was riding the motorcycle with Ismael as driver when they were flagged down by police in Barangay San Felipe on Monday night.

Clad in shorts and casual shirts, both were found carrying .45 caliber pistols without an order, and brought to the police station, said Fajardo.

He said on the way, an arresting officer noticed Sayno drop something on the floor of the police car which turned out to be a small plastic sachet with 3 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).

The following day, the two were in a police line up when a complainant pinpointed Sayno as the one who allegedly cocked a pistol at him and robbed him of his wallet and bag in Almeda Highway in this city last Saturday.

Major Angelo Guzman, spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division in Bicol, said the two soldiers would have to face the criminal charges in court and the administrative cases to be filed against them by the Army.

Major General Josue Gaverza, commander of the 9th Infantry Division, said erring Army men like Sayno and Ismael might have been forced to commit robbery to sustain their illegal drug use, activities that could merit their dismissal from service.