Recruits who joined Coast Guard with fake documents face court-martial

MANILA, Philippines—An undisclosed number of new Philippine Coast Guard recruits used fake birth certificates, school and other records in gaining admission to the undermanned maritime agency and now face possible court-martial, the Coast Guard’s officer in charge disclosed Thursday.

“It appears that some of the recently graduated trainees used fake documents during the PCG selection process,” Rear Adm. Luis Tuason Jr. said, citing a “recent investigation.”

“Several trainees have submitted falsified public documents, such as birth certificates, certificates of no marriage, college diplomas and transcript of records,” Tuason added in a press release.

He warned that trainees and PCG personnel found to have used fake documents “will face court-martial” proceedings to be conducted by the newly created PCG General Court Martial Tribunal.

The tribunal is headed by Rear Adm. Rodolfo Isorena and Capt. Lyndon la Torre, chief of the PCG Air Group.

Isorena, La Torre and other members of the tribunal, mostly from the PCG legal service branch, recently underwent a series of military justice training programs under the Armed Forces’ Judge Advocate General’s Office, Tuason said.

“The creation of the PCG court-martial tribunal aims to elevate the level of discipline among PCG officers and personnel, as well as prepare them to be more efficient and professional, especially on the growing mandate and modernization of the country’s maritime law enforcement agency,” he said.

Tuason urged applicants to think twice about submitting fake documents, citing the PCG’s “very strict guidelines in checking the background and profile of each and every applicant.” He did not say, however, how the new recruits’ fake documents escaped detection under such strict scrutiny in the first place.

The command has conducted at least four entrance tests this year, according to Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo, spokesman of the PCG, which is now an agency under the Department of Transportation and Communications.

“More or less, 3,000 applicants took each of the four batches of written examinations,” Balilo told the Inquirer. The exams were conducted in Manila; San Fernando, La Union; Legazpi City; Cebu City; Iloilo City; Davao City; and Cagayan de Oro City.

According to Balilo, the top 400 examinees from each batch were considered for the physical and medical tests. However, about 30 percent of the 400 did not hurdle the initial stage.

“This year, we have convened three classes composed of about 500 graduates, some 260 of whom are already undergoing training,” he said.

The PCG, which employs over 540 officers and 5,270 enlisted personnel, is recruiting an additional 500 men and women this year.

The Coast Guard’s 15-year development program calls for a troop ceiling of 25,000 officers and enlisted men by 2020.