By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent
A VIRAL post showing four old military trucks parked near the rotunda here has prompted an investigation by the 4th Infantry Division.
The post on the website, www.CDODev.com, showed four old military trucks with markings “4ID, 8IB” parked on an isolated roadside near the rotunda.
“4ID, 8IB” means the trucks belong to the 4th Infantry Division and assigned to the 8th Infantry Battalion currently deployed in the province of Bukidnon.
The post elicited comments ranging from suspicions of graft, and a conspiracy theory that foreigners took and hid the trucks.
The website first heard of the presence of the trucks from a local radio station that aired it earlier.
The post prompted 4ID officials to investigate after Col. Jesse Alvarez, commander of the Bukidnon-based 403rd Infantry Brigade expressed concern over the involvement of the 8th Infantry Battalion.
Capt. Patrick Martinez, 4ID spokesperson, said their investigation have come up with an explanation on how the four army trucks found its way to that deserted area.
“It is no longer owned by the 4ID or the government. These trucks were already publicly auctioned,” Martinez explained.
Martinez said the public auction was approved by the commanding general of the Army in Manila for the appraised minimum value of P329,285.
He said the trucks were among 28 vehicles like mini-cruisers, L-300 vans and assorted office equipment deemed already unserviceable and for auction.
Martinez said a public announcement for the auction was published in this paper from Oct. 8 to 11, 2015.
He said two firms participated in the bidding—Gaotu Trading from Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City and Pillars Auto Repair Shop and Junk Shop from Barangay Tablon, also in Cagayan de Oro City.
Martinez said the winning bidder was Gaotu Trading that posted a tender of P351,680. He said a certain Alejo Salvani Jr. paid the amount in Jan. 11.
He said the winning bidder was given 30 days or from Jan. 5 to Feb. 14, 2016 to haul the trucks and equipment from the yard of the 10th Field Service Support Unit (10FSSU) of the Army Support Command in Camp Evangelista.
“That is the reason why the trucks are there. Maybe the owner did not find a suitable parking area for the trucks,” Martinez said. “These are no longer government’s property and the winning bidder shall be responsible in removing those vehicles from the area.”
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