BDF Solider Allegedly Affiliated with Gang Remains on Suspension

Members of the public are left questioning cases of the BDF’s bad behaviour.  And, this is only worsened when news about these soldiers being involved in illicit surfaces. Today, we also asked Brigadier General Azariel Loria how they are dealing with the case of twenty-six-year-old Filadelfo Barrientos, who was recently charged for allegedly being affiliated with the Crips Gang. Brigadier General Loria says they can’t control what the soldiers do outside of uniform. However, he added that Barrientos is currently on suspension until he can prove his innocence.

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, Belize Defence Force: “Some might say that our soldiers is a reflection of society because we are not hermits living in a cave or cavemen. We do interact and our soldiers go on their stand downs, they have their families, they have a life to live so when they’re out there here in the BDF it’s all about military regulations and the standards are more rigid. When they’re out there we do not know what they’re doing and allegedly, again he has been remanded for allegedly being involved with gangs, that is something that the police is investigating. We do not know if indeed he is a gang member it has not been reported to us until the police found out that he was allegedly being involved with the gangs but he too he is on suspension, that is what we have recommended to the Security Service Commission that he be on suspension until he proves his innocence.”