Rabusa files plunder raps vs. 3 ex-AFP chiefs

MANILA, Philippines - Former military budget officer George Rabusa today filed plunder complaints against three former military chiefs and two former comptrollers for their alleged involvement in the fund anomaly in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Charged before the Department of Justice were former AFP chiefs of staff Efren Abu, Diomedio Villanueva and Roy Cimatu and former comptrollers Carlos F. Garcia and Jacinto Ligot.

Rabusa said that also included as respondents are Divina Cabrera, former resident auditor of the Intelligence Service of the AFP and Generoso del Castillo Jr., former chief accountant of the AFP.

He said other military officials who benefitted from the conversion of military funds were also included in the charge sheet.

Rabusa said earlier that he will be accompanied by his lawyer, Noel Malaya, and three other witnesses in the alleged corruption in the military during the leaderships of former military chiefs, including the late Angelo Reyes.

The three other witnesses, who have also presented their testimonies in Senate hearings on military corruption, are Lt. Col. Sonny Lim, former civilian budget officer Perla Valerio and former military disbursement officer Romeo Mateo.

Rabusa said he will turn over to the DOJ "boxes of documents" that can be used as evidence against the military officials.

"Marami po. Ang dala ko iyong dalawang boxes na hindi naipakita sa Senado. Iyon po ay dadalhin namin ngayon sa DOJ," he said, when asked if he will be presenting new evidence.

He added that the other witnesses will also bring documents that will prove corruption in the military.

He said that the filing of the complaints against his former bosses in the military has always been his ultimate goal.

“I think this is the fruit of our labor for the past three months,” Rabusa said.

Rabusa, who has also admitted benefitting from the converted military funds, had accused the retired military officials of pocketing millions of converted military funds. He said former military chiefs received millions in gift cash upon their resumption to the top military post and before leaving their posts.

He believes that the documents and the corroborating testimonies of all the witnesses are enough to pin the former military officials.

“Siguro po itong kaso na ito ay talagang medyo kumpleto po pagdating sa personal accounts ng mga witnesses, mga documents na hawak namin, mga affidavit ng mga corroborating witnesses,” he added.

Rabusa said that they are also planning to file charges against active military officials involved in military corruption before the Office of the Ombudsman.