Elite Scout Rangers stationed in Western Visayas have not been affected by the investigations involving some of their senior military officers in the alleged coup plot against President Arroyo, Army Col. Gregorio Fajardo said yesterday.

In fact, Fajardo said, the morale of 1st Scout Ranger Battalion soldiers remains high as they focus on internal security operations in Panay island. Fajardo used to be the 11tn Infantry Battalion commander in central Negros.

In previous months, the 1st Scout Ranger Company in Negros was swapped with the Army 33rd Reconnaissance Company from Panay island, to unify all Scout Ranger troopers under the command of Fajardo.

Fajardo who held a dialog yesterday with 1st SRB troopers headed by Lt. Col. Allen Capuyan, said he reiterated the order of Army chief Hermogenes Esperon for them to strictly follow the chain of command, support the duly-constituted government, and focus on the conduct of internal security operations.

Among the Scout Rangers officers being investigated for an alleged coup attempt against President Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo are Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Lt. Col. Nestor Flordeliza, Major Jason Aquino and Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, all formerly assigned with the Scout Ranger Regiment in Luzon.

Lim was removed from his positon Feb. 24 as the Scout Ranger commander, because of his involvement in the alleged coup plot.

Esperon has confirmed that some members of the First Scout Ranger Regiment were being questioned but would not say how many.

Flordeliza, former chief of staff of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, and the unit's personnel chief, Captain Ruben Guinolbay, are among those in custody, Esperon said.

He said he would announce the results of the probe within three days and disclose the names of all officers who will be court-martialled.

Esperon described Guinolbay as a good officer, but added: "Being a good officer cannot be a license to do unauthorized activities. There is probable cause to investigate him. He is being investigated."

Flordeliza on the other hand is being investigated "for failure to report unauthorized activities," Esperon said without elaborating.

Turning to the case of the 17 detained enlisted men, Esperon said it was possible they would be treated with leniency. "Without their officers, these enlisted personnel could not move on their own," he added.*GPB /AFP

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