Military investigation is now under way against three active officers accused of covering up the alleged suicide case of Ensign Philip Andrew Pestao aboard a Navy ship in 1995.
At a press briefing yesterday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo
Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the complaint filed by the group of retired Navy Capt. Ricardo Ordonez has already reached the office of AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa.
The chief of staff will refer the complaint to the investigative offices of GHQ (general headquarters) or PN (Philippine Navy) for investigation and appropriate disposition, Burgos said.
Burgos added among the possible AFP units conducting probe into the alleged cover-up are the Office of the Provost Marshal General, the Office of the Inspector General and the Navys Provost Marshal or Inspector General.
Ordoez, along with other Navy officers recommended to be charged with murder in connection with the death of Pestano, has forwarded a letter-complaint dated Jan. 23, through counsel lawyer Ana Luz Cristak, to Dellosa.
Ordoezs group accused Lt. Col. Felix Tayo, a member of the AFP Medical Corps and presently assigned as commanding officer of the Armys 9th Infantry Division Station Hospital, Navy Commanders Joselito de Guzman, administrative officer of the Joint-Combined Training Center of the AFP Command General Staff College, and Romulo Vigilancia, chief of staff of the Naval Logistics Center, of covering up Pestanos suicide in September 1995.
De Guzman and Vigilancia were classmates of Pestano from the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1993.
The group charged the three officers with violations of the Articles of War, specifically conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline and conduct bringing discredit upon the military service.
Ordoez, who was the commanding officer of BRP Bacolod City where Pestaos body was found lifeless inside his cabin on Sept. 27, 1995, and his group said the three willfully and deliberately acted and still continuously acting in conspiracy with one another to cover up the real cause of the death of Pestao.
The group cited several incidents involving Pestao aboard the BRP Bacolod City prior to the discovery of his lifeless body, indicating his supposed suicidal tendencies. Ordoezs group cited the administrative complaint filed against Pestano by one Djoanna Grace Dy for breach of promise to marriage.
According to Burgos, Tayo, De Guzman and Vigilancia will not be relieved of their posts immediately and it depends on the chief of staff or the Navy chief.
During the investigation stage, the relief of the complained officers is discretionary on the part of the chief of staff or FOIC (Navy flag officer in command), depending on who will conduct the investigation, Burgos said.
On the other hand, the six active officers and enlisted personnel recommended by the Ombudsman to be charged with murder are now facing dismissal from the service.
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