Army probes Palparan-led Masinloc port takeover

The Army leadership has ordered an investigation into the alleged involvement of soldiers and retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan in last Tuesday’s takeover of a port operated by a mining firm in Masinloc, Zambales to determine if charges could be filed against them.

Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, Armed Forces spokesman, told reporters that Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano has tasked Brig. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, 7th Infantry Division commander, to look into the incident and find out if soldiers of the 24th Infantry Battalion could be held liable.

“The inspector-general of the 7th ID has already gone to the place and started the process of investigation and if ever there will be soldiers found to have been directly involved, they, of course, will be subjected to an investigation and they will be dealt with accordingly,” Bacarro said.

But Bacarro said the military has no jurisdiction over Palparan who is already retired from military service.

In a statement, Villanueva, however, said men of the 24th IB only provided area security in response to the request of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for support at the Port of Baloganon in Masinloc town.

“The 24th IB troopers were not involved in the takeover of the Masinloc port as mentioned in news reports. The real scenario was that Rizhao, a Chinese company authorized by the Philippine Ports Authority to operate the Masinloc port, requested the services of CIDG for the takeover of said port,” he said.   

He said the CIDG, in turn, requested assistance from the 24th IB men “because of information that armed groups were present in the area.”

Villanueva said elements of the CIDG entered the port complex with personnel of the Provider Security Agency, while the soldiers stayed outside and put up a checkpoint to prevent the entry of any armed group.

“The soldiers will continue to perform their mandated tasks of protecting the lives and properties of the people, including the security of government’s vital installations,” he said.

Reports said the Zambales police, led by Senior Superintendent Rolando Felix, and Army troops led by Lt. Col. Philip Lapinid, 24th IB commander, took control of the port from Palparan’s group Wednesday.

Provincial legal officer Noel Ferrer reportedly discussed with Palparan legal and other issues related to the takeover, and Palparan and his group agreed to leave the port peacefully.

Earlier, Palparan had been tagged in the takeover of a mining site in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, for which he is facing charges.   – With Ric Sapnu