3 soldiers face dismissal, criminal raps for torture of Abu Sayyaf suspect

MANILA, Philippines—An Army captain and two sergeants face dismissal from the service and criminal charges for allegedly torturing a suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit involved in the infamous 2001 Lamitan siege.

Captain Sherwin Guidangen will face a military separation board while Staff Sergeant Elmer Magdaraog and Sgt. George Awing would undergo summary dismissal proceedings, a military spokesman announced Wednesday.

The three are members of the Army’s Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) assigned in Basilan.

They were found responsible for the torture of Abu Sayyaf suspect Abdul Khan Ajid, who was reportedly nabbed by soldiers in his house in Barangay (village) Libug in Sumisip, Basilan, on July 23.

When he was turned over to a hospital in Isabela City based on a court order secured by his family, Ajid was found badly beaten and severely burned in the face, chest, stomach and private parts.

Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), has approved the recommendation of an investigating team that found “sufficient grounds” to file criminal charges against Captain Guidangen and two of his men for violation of the anti-torture law.

Two other sergeants who were placed under technical arrest last week while under investigation were cleared.

AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Rodriguez, who announced the decision Wednesday, said Captain Guidangen would be evaluated by the military Efficiency and Separation Board whether he should remain in the service.

“If the ESB determines he is no longer fit to be in the service, then they will recommend the discharge of Captain Guidangen,” Rodriguez said.

S/Sergeant Magdaraog and Sergeant Awing, on the other hand, will face summary proceedings for dismissal since military rules state that enlisted personnel with criminal cases in court are automatically dismissed.

Rodriguez said the AFP leadership felt “very strongly” about the matter and would not tolerate human rights abuses by soldiers.