B.D.F Investigates Patrol Commanders for Bribery Allegations

Last month, reports emerged of Guatemalans offering food and produce as bribes to B.D.F. patrol commanders stationed in the remote southern border areas. Allegations pointed to two patrol commanders in the Machakil Ha community of Toledo who accepted these bribes. These commanders are now under investigation at Price Barracks. Today, B.D.F. Commandant Brigadier General Azariel Loria disclosed that other patrol commanders in different areas are also being investigated.

 

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“Whenever other security forces are operating in the area here, aren’t they bribed?  You see, we are not immune to these things. The BDF, we are not immune. What we need to continue to do Is to supervise and that is what we’re doing. Because of the constant patrolling in in that area, we increase our patrols responding to the illegal logging reports that we got, and because of that, we kinda bumped into Guatemalans. The Guatemalans, we have it on recording, and I believe that it has been leaked to the media too, as well. That is part of our investigation. And as part of our investigation, we know now that they’re, the Guatemalans are bribing our patrol commanders. And that is something that is being finalized and it will be coming in front of me for disciplinary procedures.”

 

Hipolito Novelo

“Okay, so do you concede that the reason why B.D.F. soldiers are accepting bribes by Guatemalan loggers is because when the pay too cheap, the government pays them too cheap?”

 

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“No, the pay is average at this point in time..”

 

Hipolito Novelo

“But appropriate or average?”

 

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“It is average, it is appropriate, we can survive. You know the cost of living is going up and, but that is another discussion.”

 

Hipolito Novelo

“But can they survive on that pay?”

 

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria

“Yes, we could. We could survive. It’s more than a thousand soldiers that are getting paid and, and there will be the elements, the bad guys there that are going to come and try to extort bribes. If persons come bribe more, then there are some that will take it, others that will not. I am being taught in my force about the virtues and the values that we espouse.  So, all the alleged bribes – it’s not everybody’s getting bribed. It’s only one or two commanders, rogue commanders.”