Army forms panel to try 7 troopers over Plaza

Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said some of the high-ranking police officials who submitted their courtesy resignations were among those suspected of complicity in the illegal drugs trade.

Murder

PHILIPPINE Army (PA) commander

Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has ordered the formation of a general court martial (GCM) to try Brig. Gen Jesus Durante III and his six other soldiers over the murder of model and businesswoman Yvonette Chua Plaza in Davao City last month.

Brawner issued the order last Saturday, after the board of inquiry (BOI) from the 10th Infantry Division that investigated Plaza’s death recommended the prosecution of Durante and the six co-accused in a military court.

Plaza was reportedly shot dead by two assailants in front of her rented house at the Green Meadows subdivision in Barangay Tugbok, Davao City last Dec. 30. After Plaza’s killing, several posts on social media dragged Durante’s name, saying he allegedly physically abused her. A post of a now inactive account has pictures of Plaza, with bruises and wounds on her face.

The BOI recommendation for court martial was endorsed to the Army’s Judge Advocate (JAG) General and Provost Marshal for the conduct of a pretrial investigation.

“A GCM was formed in anticipation for the administrative charges against the 2 officers and 5 enlisted personnel. Upon submission of the results of the BOI, the Army JAG and Provost Marshal will review the findings and initiate the preliminary investigation to identify violations in the AW prior proceeding to trial in the GCM,” Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad told ABS-CBN News on Monday.

“The Army believes in the country’s judicial system. The Army assures full cooperation and coordination with our law enforcement authorities,” Xerxes said.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Azurin said the Anti-Cybercrime Group has recommended to Congress the inclusion of e-sabong in the roster of prohibited gambling activities, with suggested sanctions on internet service providers who would fail to block e-sabong websites.

“It should be noted that e-sabong websites hosted outside the Philippines can only be blocked, not taken down, as these sites can continue to operate via a virtual private network. The PNP is having a hard time curbing e-sabong because of the technological aspect. It’s a battle of technology. Some people engaged in e-sabong are well-financed and their resources are overwhelming so I think the government should also start beefing up or strengthening its cyber capability,” Azurin told reporters.

He also disclosed that collaboration efforts were underway with government agencies involved in information and

“As a matter of fact, even the DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology), the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) have been very visible, very cooperative. They are helping us in running after e-sabong operators,” Azurin said.

President Marcos issued last December Executive Order (EO) No. 9 sustaining the suspension of the live streaming or broadcasting of live cockfights cockpits.

The order also suspends online remote, or off-cockpit betting on live cockfighting matches, including activities broadcast live, regardless of the location of the betting platform.

The presidential directive did not cover operations of traditional cockfights authorized or licensed under existing laws.

ALL HANDS ON DECK.

Police officers and other volunteers help man a voters’ registration center in Las Pinas City as residents come in droves to beat the deadline for registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set in October this year.

Joseph Muego