General accused of using soldiers to build house goes on leave

MANILA, Philippines - The general accused of using soldiers in building his three-storey house in Taguig has filed for a leave of absence pending the results of a probe conducted by the military.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said Brig. Gen. Dante Costes, the subject of the investigation, went on leave last week.

“Actually, the investigation is about to be finished. I am just waiting for the report to be submitted to CS (Armed Forces Chief of Staff) before I release it,” Tutaan said.

"The purpose of his (Costes) leave is to give way to the investigation,” he added.

Maj. Gen. Crisologo Nayve, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Communication, Electronics and Information Systems, temporarily took over Costes’ post as chief of the Communication, Electronics Information System Service.

Costes has been accused of using soldiers assigned to his office to construct his three storey-house at the AFP Officers’ Village in Taguig. The military’s Inspector General was tasked to conduct an investigation.

The probe stemmed from an anonymous but detailed letter that described how Costes allegedly used soldiers as his engineers.

In the letter, a group of “concerned citizens” said Costes had assigned his 2nd Group Commander, Lt. Col.  Arthur Pulmano,  as his construction engineer and a certain Lieutenant Commander Dela Cruz as deputy engineer.

They claimed sergeants assigned in Costes’ unit had been designated as construction foremen.

“Is it right for the soldiers to abandon their mandated military tasks to serve the personal interest of Gen. Costes as his construction workers?” the complainants said in the letter.

“We are hoping that this illegal practice within the military service is soon addressed,” they added.