Army evaluating charges vs Durante

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army is in the process of evaluating the charges that may lead to court martial proceedings against former Presidential Security Group chief Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante in relation to his alleged involvement in the murder of model and businesswoman Yvonette Chua Plaza.

Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the accusations against Durante and his deputy, former 1001st Infantry Brigade commander Col. Michael Licyayo, are being weighed.

“The pre-trial investigation is still ongoing and we already gave a copy of the charges to both General Durante and Colonel Licyayo and they have given their counter-affidavits already,” Brawner said yesterday.

“Our provost marshal and our judge advocate in the Philippine Army are studying now the affidavits of these two respondents,” he added.

Brawner said the charges so far involve alleged violations of Articles of War 96 and 97 which refer to conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.

“There might be other charges also, not just against these two officers but also against enlisted personnel,” he added, referring to at least six other soldiers also accused of involvement in the Plaza slay last December.

“We are still in the phase where we are conducting the initial investigation or pre-trial investigation,” Brawner told reporters.

Durante is currently under restrictive custody of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio along with several other officers and enlisted personnel who have been named respondents in the criminal charges filed by the Philippine National Police.

Plaza was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of her house at Green Meadows Subdivision in Davao City on Dec. 28, 2022.