ARMY chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano has ordered the arrest and confinement of Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto, relieved commander of the 4th Infantry Division, and one his men because a pre-trial investigation on a corruption charge against them has started.

"The conduct of the pre-trial investigation, which normally precedes a general court martial, necessitates that those accused be arrested and confined," said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres.

Torres said Barbieto and S/Sgt. Roseller Echipare are restricted to quarters. They are under the custody of Brig. Gen. Ricardo Morales, commander of the Army's Headquarters Support Group.

"The restriction shall take effect until such time that their cases are resolved," said Torres.

Barbieto is under investigation for possible violations of Article of War 55 (officer making unlawful enlistment), AW 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman), and AW 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline).

Echipare is being probed for violation of AW 55 and 97.

The cases stemmed from charges that the two asked applicants P25,000 to P30,000 in exchange for enlistment in the Army. Also, Barbieto is being accused of mismanaging funds for government militiamen.

Citing probers, Torres said of the 150 candidate-soldiers undergoing training at 4th ID, 97 were found to be unqualified, 20 were conditionally passed, and only 33 were eligible to undergo training and become soldiers.

Of the 133 privates recently enlisted by the 4th ID after training, 87 "were found to be unqualified while 46 were conditionally passed."

"The team reviewed and re-evaluated each case to determine the regularity of their entry into the military. Admission into the military without going through the prescribed process is considered fraudulent and may result in separation from the service," said Torres.

Torres said the appointment orders of the candidate soldiers and of the privates who were found not qualified have been cancelled.

"Although their continued stay with the military has been terminated, they were not barred from reapplying provided that they satisfy all requirements," he said.

Torres said Yano, Army chief, assured there will be no whitewash in the investigation.

Barbieto is a classmate (PMA '74) of Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

If the court martial pushes through, Barbieto would be the second Army major general to be tried by a military court for corruption.