Joint operatives from the Philippine Army and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have arrested a soldier for selling weapons and ammunition to “lawless elements” in Mindanao.
Authorities took down Technical Sergeant Santiago Caasi, assigned to the Philippine Army’s First Mechanized Infantry Division in Camp Jacobo Zobel, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
Caasi was based in Basilan and was caught selling four M203 grenade launchers on the black market in Lamitan for 2,500 pesos each.
An investigation into Caasi also uncovered his alias as ‘Scout Sergeant Randy Cruz’. The same investigation showed that Caasi sold several M16 and M14 assault rifles in the area of Basilan. Sources on the subject said that he was selling to the Abu Sayyaf Group and several other terrorist groups stationed in the region.
A native of Pangasinan, Caasi is now under arrest pending charges involving violation of Article of War 85, also known as the “Waster or Unlawful Disposition of Military Properties Issued to Soldiers.”
Authorities say they will now conduct a deeper investigation, hopefully revealing more about Caasi and his operation as they believe he was not working alone to transport and sell military weapons.