Rep. Quisumbing calls for probe of AFP

CEBU, Philippines - Representative Gabriel Luis R. Quisumbing yesterday filed House Resolution No. 910 calling on the House Committee for National Defense and Security to conduct an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the budget and financial system of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Quisumbing, who is the vice chairperson of the House Committee on National Defense and Security, said that the Committee on National Defense and Security may motu proprio call for an investigation into these anomalies to correct flaws in the AFP’s system which makes it susceptible to corruption and conversion of AFP funds from its legitimate purpose.

Quisumbing said that Ms. Heidi Mendoza in her sworn statement at a congressional hearing, disclosed that her audit revealed a missing amount of P270 million from AFP funds representing reimbursements from the United Nations.

Also in 2009, Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian revealed that out of the P46 million provided by the Americans for the 2007 Balikatan war games, only P2.3 million was released to the Filipino troops.

He added that in the meantime, the government is withholding P8.6 billion of the AFP’s P68.85-billion total personnel services allotment. (FREEMAN)