String of cases to be slapped vs ex-Army in drug bust
A dismissed member of the Philippine Army was collared Wednesday night following an anti-drug operation at his rented room at Ong Bun Pension House at Ledesma St., Iloilo City.
Joint elements of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Intelligence Section, City Anti-Drug Special Operations Group (CAIDSOG), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) collared Gilbert Sobejano, 26, of Jalandoni Estate, Brgy. Lapuz, La Paz, Iloilo City.
For six months, Sobejano was put under surveillance after an informant claimed that a man donned in Army uniform left sachets with suspected shabu residue at the trash can of his rented room at another pension house.
Lately, anti-drug operatives tailed the suspect at Ong Bun Pension House, which became his home for more than a month already.
Employees could not help but notice that the suspect was wearing a complete Army’s battle dress attire to match the gun he tucked on his waist.
On top of that, he allegedly made it clear that he is a member of the Philippine Army.
Prior to the actual operation, PDEA-VI legal counsel lawyer Ronnie Delicana said that the PNP posted two personnel adjacent to the suspect’s room.
During the operation, he added that they had one of the operatives approached the suspect who just descended from his rented room.
“Nag gwa siya sa kwarto, naka uniform. Ginsugata siya sang operatives naton, ginmangkot siya, dumalagan siya back into his room and we found out that he has a gun,” Delicana narrated. “It’s a good thing that our policeman was able to subdue him. Wala na siya kalab-ot sa pusil niya.”
Recovered from Sobejano’s room were seven elongated, one small, 33 sachets with shabu residue, paraphernalia, 3 cellphones, caliber .9 mm pistol (Norinco) loaded with 5 ammunitions, 2 magazines loaded with ammunitions, fake AFP identification cards bearing different names.
Meanwhile, Sobejano admitted to the allegations against him.
But he claimed that he already stopped selling drugs.
Pot session
Based on the recovery at Sobejano’s room, PDEA believed it was also used as a drug den.
“Ginagamit niya ang hotel niya as drug den. Ginapagamitan niya illegal drugs. Based on our recovery, damo gid paraphernalia,” said PDEA-VI OIC Paul Ledesma.
Further, “may mga ara nga na notisyahan nga naga saka diri sa iya kwarto ka gang suspetso gagamit diri sa sulod,” he added.
As this developed, PDEA is preparing string of charges against the suspect to range from violations of the COMELEC gun ban, Revised Penal Code Article 177 or usurpation of authority or official function, Article 179 or illegal use of uniforms or insignia; and possession of illegal drugs and visiting a drug den.
AWOL
Late of 2007, it was learned that Sobejano was declared AWOL (absent without official leave) by the Phil. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.
Prior to that, 3ID public information officer 1Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas said, the suspect was charged for malversation.
While he was still a finance sergeant of the 3ID Division Training Unit, “kinukupitan niya daw yung sweldo and subsistence allowance ng mga trainees. That’s why he was charged,” Posadas claimed.
Sobejano then went into hiding but he was twice arrested.
He also twice bolted from Army custody.
“It was then that we declared him AWOL,” Posadas said adding that Sobejano went to Manila to escape.
Complaints
Last year, he was reported to be in Iloilo.
The report came after lending companies called the Phil. Army office at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City claiming that a certain 1Lt. Sobejano made a loan but the latter was nowhere to be found leaving them with thousands of unpaid loan.
“But that early, we explained to them that he is no longer an Army personnel,” Posadas claimed.
The 3ID spokesman claimed that it’s impossible for the suspect to hold a rank of First Lieutenant.
“He was discharged from service as Private First Class (PFC). Even if he was reinstated, it’s impossible for him to be a first lieutenant for the said time span,” he added.
Aside from lending institution, a hotel in Iloilo City also complained Sobejano for estafa.
Again, wearing an Army uniform, he allegedly stayed in the hotel and failed to pay his bills.
But the complaints did not stop there.
Posadas admitted to reports that a woman went to their office accusing Sobejano of swindling.
“According to the woman, nagkarelasyon sila kag ginpangwarthan lang siya kuno,” the 3ID spokesman claimed adding that the woman stressed that the suspect claimed to be a bachelor despite the fact that he is already married.
For now, “we are pleasantly surprised with the news of his arrest. Even then, we believed that someone has to get him,” Posadas concluded.
