The 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines clarified that only two of the four persons arrested on Saturday in a buy-bust operation were soldiers.
In a text message, 10th ID spokesperson Capt. Jerry Lamosao said that of the four, only Cpl. Cristiuto G. Macagubang Jr. assigned in 3rd Infantry Batallion in Barangay Malagos in Baguio District and SCAA John Rey Mission, a member of Task Force Davao and Regie Impas are legitimate soldiers.
The other two were just acting as soldiers with fake AFP IDs, Lamosao said, referring to suspects identified by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 11 as Cpl.John Louie T. Segovia, Sgt. Albin A. Binondo, who both allegedly assigned at the 10th ID. He said the names of these people are not part to their roster or other AFP units.
“10ID does not tolerate the illegal activity of a soldier if there is any specially that involves illegal drug,” he said. He said their division is conducting drug test in coordination with PDEA and there are some already discharged from service.
“We cooperate with the authorities and also encourage our troops and always reminded them not to be involved in illegal drugs,” he said.
In an interview with the suspects, Binondo admitted that he and Segovia are not soldiers and also confirmed that their AFP Identification cards seized by PDEA 11 are fakes.
Binondo said the identification cards were only given to them by a certain Jay-arr Capistrano and they paid P500 for it. He said Capistrano told them that they were given with the identification cards as civilian agent but he refused to elaborate on that matter.
For her part, PDEA 11 officer-in-charge Naravy Duquiatan said that her office is now closely coordinating with regards to the identity of suspect.
Duquiatan said that if her officers found that Binondo and Segovia really used the fake AFP ids, another charges will be filed against them. She said the PDEA 11 will file additional charges of falsification of public documents and usurpation of authority.
Meanhwile, Macagubang, Mission, Binondo, Segovia and the alleged member of gun for hire Regie Impas were already submitted for inquest procedure for violation of sections 3 for selling and 11 for possession under Republic Act 9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
At 2:45 a.m. November 11, PDEA operatives arrested the suspects at Purok Talisay, Seminary Drive in Barangay West Magugpo, Tagum City.
