Philippine Army (PA) Commanding General Romeo Brawner Jr. has relieved Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante as commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade after he had been named as a “person of interest” in the continuing investigation into the killing of businesswoman Yvonne Chua-Plaza in Davao City early this month.
In a statement released to military reporters, Brawner said Durante was relieved of his post to give way to an impartial and thorough investigation into Chua’s murder, which is being pursued by the Davao City Police.
“The Philippine Army will not condone any criminal acts committed by its personnel. As such BGen [brigadier general] Jesus Durante has been relieved as commander of the 1001st Brigade after being named as a person of interest in the murder of Yvonnette Chua-Plaza to give way to an impartial and thorough investigation,” Brawner said.
“The Army ensures the public that this incident is not service related,” he added.
Chua-Plaza was shot outside of her residence in Davao City by one of two suspects who were riding a motorcycle. The incident was caught on CCTV.
Durante’s name was dragged into the killing after Chua-Plaza herself posted on her social media account months before her death photos of the injuries allegedly inflicted on her by Durante, and whom, she claimed, had also threatened her.
Durante, former chief of the Presidential Security Group during the term of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, had denied any involvement in the murder case.
In an earlier statement, the Army general said his name was only drawn into the killing as a result of the social media posts made by Chua-Plaza, whom he considered as a “friend.”
On Wednesday, however, radio reports quoted police probers as saying that two of the men who were tracked down based on CCTV footage had pointed to Durante as involved in the case.