Soldier dismissed over illegal drugs in North Cotabato

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - The “soldier” reportedly arrested last week in Midsayap town for keeping a big volume of methamphetamine hydrochloride has long been discharged from the military service due to criminal offenses, an Army official said Monday.

Lt. Col. Joel Mamon, commanding officer of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion (IB), said the suspect, whom the police identified as Corporal Dres Endaila, was indeed a former 40th IB member, but went on absence without leave and eventually deserted his last unit of assignment.

“He was implicated in pilferage, or to say it correctly, theft of Army firearms and drug trafficking while still a soldier,” Mamon said.

Endaila was arrested last week by policemen in Midsayap town in the first district of North Cotabato for keeping drugs and a live fragmentation grenade in his house.

Mamon said if Endaila is still in active service, he would be immediately subjected to administrative proceedings for him to be discharged from the service.

“Drug offenses are non-negotiable in the military. If enough evidence and investigation findings will warrant, an offender will certainly be discharged from the service,” Mamon said.

The chief of the Midsayap municipal police, Superintendent Gilbert Tuazon, said the suspect had been charged with violation of the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Act and illegal possession of firearms.