INIHAYAG ng pamunuan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na ‘under restrictive custody’ na ang isang high-ranking Philippine Air Force (PAF) official na inakusahan ng sexual assault ng dalawa niyang junior officers na nagsisilbing office assistants.
Ayon kay AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, kasalukuyang naka- house arrest sa loob ng military camp ang nasabing senior military officers.
Sinampahan sila ng kasong “joint criminal complaint for rape through sexual assault and attempted rape through sexual assault sa prosecutor’s office” base sa prima facie evidence na nagsasabing nagpakita ang senior military official ng conduct unbecoming of an officer and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.
“The official was immediately relieved from his post upon the filing of complaint, pahayag ni Colonel Padilla at aniya, nakabinbin ang kaso at inaantabayanan na lamang ang approval ni AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawn,er Jr., na siyang convening authority para sa General Court Martial (GCM) proceedings.
“For review na po siya and signature ng ating chief of staff. Siya rin ang ating convening authority,”paliwanag ni Padilla.
Bago nito ay naglabas muna ang Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) ng kanilang findings sa isinagawang preliminary probe at kinakitaan umano ng ‘sufficient evidence against the officer’ sa ginawang initial investigation.
“The totality of Respondent’s actions violates moral, ethical, and professional standards of military officers. His conduct demonstrates a lack of respect for others and an abuse of authority bringing dishonor to the military profession,” ayon sa OESPA report na inilabas noong February 26, 2025 kaya nauwi ito sa paghahain ng charge sheet sa Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (OJAG). Bukod pa ito sa kasong criminal na inihain sa prosecutors office.
“The high-ranking military official will face trial under Articles of War 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman) and 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline). As a general rule, pagka criminal case is filed before a civilian court, ‘yung AFP will defer this to the court’s authority regarding sa custody,” ani Col Padilla.
Paliwanag pa ng opisyal: “However, under the Articles of War, AW 75, we provide that any person subject to military law who is held by military authorities to answer or who is awaiting trial or the result of trial or who is undergoing sentence for a crime or offense punishable under the Articles of War, yung AFP may retain custody.”
Tiniyak naman ng AFP na papangalagaan nito ang seguridad ng dalawang junior officer na complainants.
“Sila [PAF] ang nagha-handle po nitong officers na involved. Rest assured na ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas will do the necessary measures to protect our officers. Meron tayong measures like psychological support that we give them at kung anuman ang kakailanganin para mapabuti ang kanilang kalagayan, ibibigay po natin,” dagdag pa ng tagapagsalita.
