PMA Valedictorian expelled from the US

**jolog1** · November 24th, 2004 05:51 PM

PMA valedictorian expelled from Benning

By FERNAN MARASIGAN
TODAY Reporter

For a mere US$0.50, the valedictorian of the prestigious Philippine Military Academy Class 2004, who was sent to the US for schooling as a reward for topping his class, was arrested and sent back to the country.

Army 2Lt. Rolly Joaquin, a student of the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, was arrested for alleged theft by deception by US authorities after he was caught supposedly removing the 50-cent discount tag from a sale item and attaching it to a nonsale item that he purchased sometime in October.

The incident was reported by the Joint United States Military Assistance Group-Philippines to the Army on October 26.

Two days later, Joaquin arrived from the US and was turned over to the Army’s Headquarters Support Group for custody.

The incident happened as the Armed Forces is besieged by allegations of corruption as a result of the case of embattled Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, who was accused of pocketing millions of pesos of military funds.

Garcia is being tried by a general court-martial for allegedly violating the Articles of War.

Close on the heels of the Garcia case, the Armed Forces was again put in a bad light after a recruit accused another officer of ***ually molesting him and other recruits.

Maj. Ferdinand Ramos, Civil Military Operations commander of the Army’s Light Armor Brigade based in Camp O’Donnel in Capas, Tarlac, is now the subject of investigation after video footage of his alleged dalliance with trainees was shown on national television.

On the case of Joaquin, Army officials said he is now restricted to quarters and is undergoing investigation. If prima facie evidence is established, he will be subjected to court-martial proceedings just like Garcia for violation of Article of War 96 or conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman, and Article of War 97 or conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.

“Independent of the court-martial proceedings, the subject officer can also be administratively charged under the Armed Forces’ Efficiency and Separation Board,” said Maj. Vicente Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the Army public information office.

“The Army leadership would like to take this opportunity to assure the public that these matters will be addressed accordingly and that appropriate punishment shall be meted out,” Bacarro added.

**kimpOy** · November 24th, 2004 05:55 PM

sheesh... totoo ba yan, kakahiya naman.

**mantoy** · November 24th, 2004 06:02 PM

nakngtokwa naman oh. 50 cents lang...tsk tsk...

**baiskee** · November 24th, 2004 06:02 PM

mukhang totoo...narinig ko pinag kwekwentohan to kanina ng mga officemates ko.

sayang.

**chieffy** · November 24th, 2004 06:24 PM

yan ang pinakamahal niyang $ 0.5...it cost him his career and future....

**1D4LV** · November 24th, 2004 06:26 PM

sabay sabay ang image problems ng militar natin ah....

a) may milyonaryong nangungurakot;
b) may bading;
c) ngayon naman, may KLEPTO....

kamusta na kaya morale ng rank and file nila....

**Kicker15** · November 24th, 2004 06:26 PM

.50 CENTS

grabeng kahihiyan yan

**crossback** · November 24th, 2004 06:33 PM

putik! tenyente palang nagnanakaw na! eh pano pa tayo kung naging heneral yan! dapat yan discharged na, baka maging 'GARCIA' pa yan!
:mad: :mad:

**baiskee** · November 24th, 2004 06:38 PM

malamang.

**tagalnasaabroad** · November 24th, 2004 07:28 PM

nagkalat ng baho at kalagiman sa bansang pilipinas damay sampu ng mga magulang nyat kamilitar..valedictorian kapa jan..

sana di na masyadong inexposed 'to sa media..imho..nakakahiya talaga..