An Army corporal deployed in Marawi was relieved from his post after he allegedly cussed at bus passengers at a checkpoint in Marantao, Lanao del Sur last week.
Cpl. Marlo Lorigas is currently detained in the barracks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Mindanao, facing administrative charges and undergoing investigation.
On Tuesday, Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs office chief, said the military leadership would not tolerate any abuses committed by its troops.
He said, however, it was possible some troops might be under “combat stress” caused by the Marawi siege.
“Hindi natin pababayaan ang ating mga sundalo,” he said.
(“We won’t neglect our troops.”)
But if the results of the investigation would merit it, the soldier would be given the appropriate punishment, he added.
Lorrigas allegedly cursed at bus passengers, spewing warnings related to death.
Arevalo said this was the first case of abuses committed by AFP personnel since the declaration of martial law in Mindanao by President Rodrigo Duterte last May 23.
But he dismissed the idea that this might signal the beginning of more military abuses.
“This is a very isolated incident,” he said, stressing that due process would not be bypassed.
Arevalo advised citizens to immediately report any anomalies and abuses committed by military personnel.
“Napakahalaga po na ibigay ninyo sa amin ang mga detalye ng mga nangyari upang mas madali natin itong ma-trace,” he said.
(“It’s very important that you give details of incidents so that we can easily trace them.”) –Theodore Jason Patrick K. Ortiz, trainee /atm