AWOL Navy officer nabbed

A NAVY officer who has gone absent without official leave (AWOL) since November last year was finally arrested by members of the Philippine Navy in Zamboanga Sibugay on Monday.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Benjie Chico went AWOL in November last year a day after he was allegedly seen with a female Marine officer who was found dead inside her car in Fort Bonifacio.

He was apprehended by Naval intelligence authorities in Imelda town in Zamboanga Sibugay at around 2 p.m., Navy spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo said.

Arevalo emphasized that the arrest has nothing to do with the death of First Lieutenant Shelina Calumay, although Chico is one of the persons of interest in the case.

“In the Navy, his case is AWOL but his implication on his possible involvement [in] the crime is up to the [Philippine National Police] to establish,” he said.

“We provided the PNP all the information, CCTV, access…They should be able to determine if he will be considered suspect or not,” he said.

“What we can say is that he went AWOL then that followed after the death of Lt. Calumay. That is so far the established fact,” he added.

With Chico’s arrest, he will be brought back to military control and will be undergoing questioning. He will also be facing court martial for violating military regulations.

“Once he is brought back to military control, he will be confined and then he has to undergo investigation as to the reason surrounding his AWOL,” he said. AC