AFP’s Logcom disbanded

One of the major commands in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be abolished next month.

AFP chief Gen. Efren Abu announced yesterday the abolition of the Logistics Command (Logcom) effective April 1, with its functions to be farmed out to the major service commands.

Abu admitted the Logcom has been perceived publicly as a graft-ridden office of the military.

With the flawed procurement system in the military aggravated by the presence of some corrupt personnel, Logcom has apparently become the center of corruption within the AFP.

Abu said the abolition of the Logcom is part of the AFP’s efforts to rid its general headquarters (Camp Aguinaldo) of operational functions.

"What we want to do (is) to make the GHQ 100 percent administrative while we leave all operational matters to our commanders in the field," Abu told a forum at the Development Bank of the Philippines in Makati City.

Abu said the major services of the AFP — the Army, Navy and Air Force — will now handle the logistics of their respective personnel.

"So instead of the general headquarters procuring for the units of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, they will be the ones doing this," Abu said.

Under the present setup, only the Logcom, currently headed by Brig. Gen. Roberto Saylim, is tasked to procure and provide logistical support to various military units and military offices in the form of supplies, materiel and general services.

Corrupt suppliers, in cahoots with some Logcom officials and personnel, reportedly amassed hundreds of millions of pesos in kickbacks and commissions in every transaction made at the office.

Abu pointed out Logcom is specifically tasked to provide materiél maintenance services, including repair of defective weapons, ammunition and vehicles.

"Alam mo pag sinabing logistic command kahit kami sa Armed Forces medyo hindi maganda pakinggan (When one mentions logistic command, even those of us in the AFP do not want to hear about its notoriety)," Abu said.

The abolition of Logcom comes in the wake of the filing of graft charges against controversial retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the erstwhile AFP comptroller.

Garcia, who was in charge of the disbursement of military funds, is the country’s highest military officer ever to face court martial for his alleged unexplained wealth here and abroad.

Garcia was said to have multiple bank accounts, eight luxury vehicles and choice real estate properties here and abroad under his and family members’ names.

In an effort to purge the military of its corrupt image following the Garcia controversy, Abu ordered the AFP Comptrollership division divided into four new offices under his direct command.

Abu appointed one senior comptroller who is tasked to report directly to him with four deputies heading the offices of the Internal Auditor, Resource Management Office, the Management and Fiscal Office and the Accounting Office.

The four division chiefs are also tasked to report daily to the AFP chief.

Abu also announced more offices with operational and tactical functions will be dissolved as the reorganization of the AFP continues.

The AFP chief, however, did not elaborate on what particular offices would be reshuffled.

Abu spoke about the AFP’s "urgent need for reforms" in a public dialogue with representatives of the media and civil society groups led by the Foundation for Economic Freedom.

Abu said a review of general headquarters offices is continuing. "We are removing the large offices that are a source of corruption."

In the same forum, retired general Ramon Montano lauded the move, describing it as the most direct way of solving the problem of corruption in the military.

"The procurement system is a major source of corruption," Montano said.

"It’s too dealer-friendly. We buy what dealers want us to buy. Dealers give the AFP what the AFP doesn’t need," he said. — With AFP