MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday created a five-man Fact-Finding and Evidence Evaluation Committee tasked with investigating allegations of corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
De Lima issued the order designating Senior State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva to lead the committee, with Assistant City Prosecutor Alfredo Agcaoili, State Prosecutor Merba Waga, State Counsel Charlene Mae Tapic and lawyer Gregorio Arizala as members.
De Lima issued Department Order No. 237 empowering the committee to receive all communications, information and report of graft and corruption, or any anomalies in the AFP.
She said the committee would gather, collect, receive, review, assess and evaluate evidence related to or regarding such cases of corruption and anomalies.
De Lima said the committee is tasked to recommend the filing of charges against such persons who appear responsible and liable.
The AFP said they are ready to cooperate with the DOJ panel to investigate the allegation of corruption in its ranks.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. earlier said the military would provide the DOJ the necessary testimonies and documents since they want those involved in the malpractices punished.
Mabanta said they are hopeful that the issue would be resolved immediately.
Mabanta noted the allegations came following the revelations made by former military budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa before the Senate.
The DOJ formed the investigating team even if Rabusa, who earlier exposed the alleged malpractices in the AFP, has not filed a complaint affidavit.
De Lima said the investigation would begin even without the formal complaint from Rabusa in order to gather more evidence from other sources.
She said the panel would determine if there is basis to proceed with the preliminary investigation against certain AFP officials who possibly have amassed illegal wealth while still in the service.
“The panel will start collating all pieces of evidence, information and reports from both houses of Congress and also from Armed Forces of the Philippines. I cannot wait for the complaint affidavit of whistleblower retired Col. George Rabusa. I understand that the colonel is preparing comprehensive affidavit that is why there is delay in submitting his affidavit,” she said.
Rabusa told a Senate hearing last Jan. 27 that former military chiefs were given millions in sendoff money upon retirement. He said the giving of hefty cash gifts to top officials is part of a military tradition.
Rabusa claimed that some military funds had to be diverted to ensure the availability of the sendoff money.
He said former AFP chief Angelo Reyes got P50 million in sendoff money while former military chiefs Diomedio Villanueva and Roy Cimatu got P160 million and P80 million, respectively.
Rabusa made the revelations during a hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on the plea bargain deal between the Office of the Ombudsman and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.
The AFP is exerting all efforts to weed out corruption in the military, with junior officers taking the initiative.
A group led by Army Maj. Jason Aquino has proposed that all financial transactions and budgetary needs of the military should be handled by the civilian Department of National Defense (DND).
Aquino held a Power Point presentation detailing that all financial management functions of the AFP should be moved to the DND to address and eliminate the “comptroller mafia” that has been in full control of the AFP’s budgetary and financial resources without accountability.
“Wielders of the sword should not be holders of the purse,” Aquino stressed.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said they have put in place necessary safeguards to eliminate every possible situation or opportunity for corruption in the police service.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the PNP leadership has installed anti-corruption safeguards in almost every aspect of police operation and function to satisfy the requirements of transparency and public accountability according to the government’s anti-corruption master plan. – With Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe