What impact will retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa's exposé on corruption in the military have on our government?

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: Col. Rabusa’s exposé tarnishes the credibility and integrity of the AFP as the protector of the people. No wonder the people now call them the predators of the people.

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: It could have had more impact and credibility if the good colonel was presented by senators other than Jinggoy and Trillanes. The motive is suspect.

Demoralization in the ranks

Reynaldo Joaquin, Las Piñas City: This will affect the morale of underpaid soldiers who sacrifice in the field, only to know that generals are enriching themselves!

Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: These accusations and allegations of corruption in the military will surely demoralize our soldiers. The government’s effort against terrorism and insurgency will not succeed if there is grumbling and discontent among the junior officers and soldiers of the armed forces. The President should watch out against future military adventurism either coming from the generals or from the junior officers. Kawawa na naman ang ating ekonomiya kapag may magaganap na kudeta.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Uncle Sam sends us millions of dollars in funds for the drive against corruption, yet this monstrous tradition of thievery was not brought out in the open? What will Uncle Sam think of this? While ordinary soldiers die in battle because of worn-out boots and clothes and sparse supply of bullets, the generals enrich themselves from funds earmarked for the needs of fighting soldiers. This certainly debases their morale to the lowest ebb.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Troops on the ground will be demoralized, knowing that money intended for them are pocketed by their superiors.

June Deoferio, Cavite: This exposé may demoralize and bring down the morale of the whole military organization of the AFP, especially those in the battlefield.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: It opens a can of worms. This is very lamentable and discouraging to our junior officers and troops in the field. Again, it puts to test P-Noy’s capability to reform the military with his famous “matuwid na daan” battlecry.

Ed Gulmaico, Abu Dhabi: The impact will be on lowly, aggravated and deprived rank- and-file soldiers in the battlefield, and on poor Filipino taxpayers who foot the bill for this never-ending corruption.

Business as usual

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: No impact. It’s business as usual. More serious exposés had been done before. The government continued to function. Nothing happened.

Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: Many past exposés did not have any impact. Cases of corruption, magnified to the nth degree, were merely told and retold. Is there a good reason that this one will?

An acid test for P-Noy

Manny Cordeta, Marikina City: Certainly, the issue adds to the long list of P-Noy’s headaches in less than a year of incumbency. On a positive note, the latest “telenovela” in the Upper Chamber keeps P-Noy and his lieutenants on their toes as the stakes seem too high. An acid test, so to speak. In the spirit of fair play, Rabusa’s exposé should stand up squarely in any given legal battle or scrutiny as it remains to be proven. I’d hate to tag the retired officer a “suicide bomber.”

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: It all depends on the result of the Senate investigation. If all quiet down like most investigations, to name a few, jueteng, NBN ZTE, Joe Pidal, Fertilizer Scam, NFA rice importation, local water district overpriced projects, election cheating, Macagapal Blvd., corruption at the AFP will lie low for a while but will be back with vengeance just like jueteng, which is again operating in most places in the country. It will be different, though, if Gen. Garcia and at least two others are convicted with plunder. Then maybe corruption will be minimized in government offices. Rabusa’s exposé is a litmus case on the resolve of Pres. Aquino’s drive to rid corruption in the country.

The issue will die a natural death

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: It will be a burning issue for several days and will die a natural death. I’ll bet no general will go to jail for it. Dito pa!

Rene Poder, Manila: Absolutely zero. The authorities will merely treat Rabusa and his exposé as basura.

All-out war vs corruption

Pitts Hizon, Mexico, Pampanga: P-Noy should stand firm on his motto. “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap”, regardless whose toes he steps on.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: There’s no turning back anymore. The government should act swiftly on this mess. The investigation should push through until all plunderers are put to jail. This is a disgrace to all men in uniform and let’s not wait until the entire morale of the Armed Forces plummets. This alleged tradition in the AFP should be stopped. Let us not allow the disease spread to the entire government system.

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: One thing is sure, this exposé will bring out skeletons in many closets not only in the military but also in many government functionaries. We only hope that while Rabusa has one finger pointing out, he has none pointing at himself. However, that will not lessen the value of his exposé if the wrongs he declares are nothing but the truth! Let’s await the result and see if this will not make us again as ‘innocents beguiled’. This is an opportune time for our President to proceed with dispatch in going full swing with his “Kung walang kurap, walang mahirap” campaign. The exposé of retired Lt. Col. Rabusa may cover the rotten system of promotion in the AFP, too, as he never got to the position above “Elticol”.

Dr. Francis Regalado, Muntinlupa City: It’s a pity that the generals involved are denying their thievery to death, but that doesn’t surprise me at all. The Philippines isn’t No. 1 in corruption for nothing. Their questionable luxurious lifestyles scream corruption all over. However, this is a great chance for transparent and good governance. I challenge President Aquino to go all out. No conspiracy, settlements, or plea-bargain agreements. We have the US government to thank for their action on ex-Gen. Garcia at their airports.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: President Aquino will have no other recourse but to turn upside-down all stones to ferret out all the anomalies and put behind bars all perpetrators whoever they are. Otherwise, foot soldiers that are risking their lives in the field while their families suffer may lead a revolution with the support of the people.

It’s politically motivated

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: I can’t help thinking that such exposé is politically motivated, a fact that has always been evident in the past.

Rabusa is no whistleblower

Jesus Dequia, Metro Manila: Rabusa is just another corrupt officer who wants to ride on his alleged exposé to wiggle out of his own cases and to get himself elected as senator.

R. Los Baños, Las Piñas City: Just the usual publicity. The revelations of a remorseful kiss-and-tell Col. Rabusa, who is trying to come clean at the expense of his cohorts while keeping his share of the loot can only be taken with a grain of salt. I don’t think any military-house cleaning can out of this in the long run.

Rita Morales, Metro Manila: No impact whatsoever because a man who wants to turn state witness will lie through his teeth to save his own skin. Rabusa is no whistleblower to me.

Gemma Abacan, Metro Manila: Rabusa is just a smokescreen. The real story is the loss of P50 million in UN funds, which is now coming out as having been given to former AFP chief Benjamin Defensor, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s brother.

A candle in the dark

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Ret. Lt. Col. George Rabusa is a credible whistleblower because he found no other way to relieve himself from being haunted by his own conscience but to confess his sins. Let us hope that others who amass material things through evil ways be led to humbling themselves, confessing their sins, repenting and turning away from their corrupt practices and begging for forgiveness from God and from the people to end all corruption in our society and to realize the Philippines as a true Christian nation.

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: This exposé is not new. So long as the government chooses to be blind and deaf to all these, Rabusa will just remain a firefly trying to light up a cave.

Dennis Vibandor, Camarines Sur: Col. Rabusa’s exposé is like a blade of light in a dark room that slowly illuminates the space. I am hoping that this exposé will not end like previous cases of corruption such as the ZTE, fertilizer scam, etc. where the involved government officials are still enjoying their loot and living in style. As the Commander- in-Chief, the president should act now and support this whistleblower if he really wants to eradicate corruption in government.

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: Retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa is an officer and a gentleman with his conscience intact. How I wish we had more like him in our government. I hope his exposé will have a tremendous impact on all corrupt officials.

How will our institutions cope?

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: The problem is how our democratic institutions will handle this latest scandal. Reforming the military would need a determined effort from the judicial system to prosecute the army of plunderers. Either the DOJ or the Ombudsman should undertake a thorough investigation. We cannot rely on an incompetent ombudsman who has delusions of grandeur.

Grafters will lie low

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: The impact will be great. For the time being, grafters will lie low, but expect them to resurrect with a vengeance.

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: The exposé of ret. Lt. Col. George Ragusa will surely scare other hideous thieves or those who know the extent of corruption in both public and private institutions into coming out to expose everything they know and put a period on all wickedness in our midst. That way, they may escape conviction and imprisonment through legal and moral means.

Leonard Villa, Batac City: It broke the black hearts of corrupt officials of the AFP, serving a stern warning to would-be grafters. Kick more ass, Col. Rabusa, and kick ‘em hard.

Let’s wait and see

Norberto Robles, Taguig City: Too early to tell. Let us wait and see ex-Lt Col Rabusa back up his allegations against ex-CS Reyes with bulletproof evidence.

Higher-ups are involved

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: The revelation of Lt. Col. Rabusa makes us aware of the degree of corruption in the military service. I cannot, however, believe that military officers alone are responsible. Some high-ranking government officials must be in connivance, the reason why no prosecution has taken place. Gen. Garcia must do the same and tell the truth regardless who gets hurt. He should expose those involved for the sake of the soldiers who died in action leaving behind their troubled families.

Nothing will happen

Janet Lopez, Manila: Unless a four- star general quickly goes to a no-star jail, not a danged thing.

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: Nothing! Corruption is normal in this country and it may be hot news now but it will just die down later just like other exposés that we’ve heard before. Let’s accept that unless Filipinos change their ways and become disciplined, corruption will always be a way of life, especially in government. No one will go to jail, except for the petty thief who steals P100 and gets caught.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Ho-hum. So what else is new? Our government, past and present, is full of thieves. After that exposé, then what? Nobody is even put to jail. Everyone involved in past scams are free to this day, enjoying life’s perks.

A big blow to the armed forces

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: This is the biggest blackeye on our government. Corruption in the military has gone up to its highest level.

Change curriculum

Rey Onate, Palayan City: The impact: A change in the curriculum of the school where all those involved may have graduated. Service to fellowmen with integrity should replace elitism and too much materialism. I know George is a champion player of chess. Checkmate mo sila!

Too late the hero

Denny Muñoz, Metro Manila: Lt. Col. George Rabusa’s admission of guilt as one of the cohorts in military corruption weakens his character instead of being hailed as another unsung hero in the military. As the adage goes, “ Too late the hero.” “Nakinabang din siya.”

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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