Army stops 12 trainees from graduating as assault probe continues

Graduation ceremony for the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary military training proceeded as scheduled on Wednesday at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. —PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE ARMY 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army has held back 12 trainees from graduating and becoming the newest members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary (CAA) following allegations some members of the batch were assaulted by an instructor on Monday night.

The 12 were among 200 civilian volunteers who were set to graduate on Wednesday after completing the Cafgu training at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. The graduation rites for the rest of the batch proceeded as scheduled.

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“As of the moment, we have 12 who are supposed to graduate, who are training. They are civilian volunteers,” Col. Michael Aquino, public affairs chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, told reporters. “When there’s an investigation, they will be held first because the investigation is being finished.”FEATURED STORIES