IN the wake of the killings of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and others, the Philippine Army said it is closely monitoring its snipers, special warfare operatives, and bomb experts to prevent them from turning into criminals once they are discharged from service.
Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said this was laid out in a meeting in Malacañang Monday morning to address the issue of discharged soldiers who have “very specialized military skills” now selling their services to criminal syndicates.
Brawner said among the discharged soldiers they would monitor are those trained as snipers, scout rangers, and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal units (EOD).
“For example, former EOD members will no longer be allowed to go out of the country without approval from the Army. We will be closely monitoring our discharged snipers and scout rangers too,” Brawner said.
Three of the suspects arrested by the police in the pursuit operation Barangay Cansumalig, Bayawan City following the killing of Governor Degamo last Saturday were former soldiers with special skills.
A fourth suspect identified as Osmundo Rivero, who was arrested in Bayawan City was also a former member of the Philippine Army who later became a taxi driver.
The three suspects were identified as former Army Sgt. Joric Garrido Labrador who was terminated in 2014 for alleged drug use; former Sgt. Joven Calibjo Javier who went awol in 2018; and former Corporal Benjie Rodriguez, a resident of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental, and a member of the Jolo-based Army 35th Infantry Battalion who also went on Awol.
Brawner said Labrador was trained as a scout ranger and assigned to the Military Intelligence Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro before he was terminated in 2014 while Javier was a member of the elite Light Reaction Battalion who was trained by the US to fight terrorists.
He said all three including Bonifacio were “highly skilled military operators.”
“It is tempting for them to use their skills since they no longer have a steady income,” Brawner said.
Brawner said the Army is now considering providing pieces of training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the discharged soldiers similar to the program they had for retiring soldiers.
“If possible we will provide them (with) companies who are interested in getting them with their new skills,” he said.
