The Department of National Defense (DND) “will not coddle anyone” in the military who breaks the law, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Sunday.
The warning came days after two Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel filed rape charges against a major general. The accused was reportedly placed under house arrest at an undisclosed military camp pending completion of investigation and subsequent trial of the case.
“We will not coddle anyone, and we will subject them fully to the process of law. He is currently facing criminal charges of which he will be submitted to the jurisdiction of the court and likewise, military proceedings,” Teodoro told reporters.
Teodoro emphasized that he has not spoken to the PAF official accused of sexually assaulting male subordinates, noting that he has a role in deciding whether the officer will be retained or removed from the service.
“It is improper for me to talk to any accused in a case, particularly if one is facing a General Court Martial because the findings of a General Court Martial before it is submitted to the President, I will have to review them to submit my recommendation,” he said.
“I will just leave the process to run its course, but there will be no interference from anyone. The process will be followed," he added.
The defense chief also urged lawmakers to amend the law requiring that military officials be tried in civilian courts during peacetime.
Teodoro explained that under the current law, the General Court Martial “is limited to removal” of a military official during peacetime, “because the only charge should be conduct unbecoming of an officer.”
“We want to retain jurisdiction so that it is stricter. The custodial rules under military law are stricter so they will not be allowed bail, if officers or members of the uniformed service like the Armed Forces are separated already, they are subjected to civilian processes where they can avail of bail,” he said.
Last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) found substantial evidence to proceed with a pre-trial investigation against the PAF official.
The accused denied the allegations, asserting that rape could not have occurred because the two alleged victims were physically capable of overpowering him.
