AFP general probed for using soldiers to build house

MANILA, Philippines - An Army general is under investigation for allegedly using soldiers to build his three-story house at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

The probe on Brig. Gen. Dante Costes, commander of Communication, Electronics Information System Service-Armed Forces of the Philippines (CEISS-AFP), stemmed from a letter by “concerned citizens” reaching the office of AFP chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.

Bautista “is already aware of the issue and has taken steps to address it. He has already recommended the complaint to the proper investigation body. We will make sure that this will undergo due process for the benefit of those concerned,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.

According to the letter, Costes uses about 20 to 30 soldiers belonging to different units at the CEISS-AFP as unpaid labor to build his house at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officers Village Association Inc. (AFPOVAI).

“It is right for the soldiers to abandon their mandated military tasks to serve the personal interest of Gen. Costes as his construction workers? We are all confused because as soldiers we cannot question orders given to us,” the letter read.

The complainants said they could not air their grievances because most of the officers at CEISS-AFP are controlled by Costes, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1980.

They also claimed that Costes’ brother, David, who serves as his architect, has reportedly designated 2nd Group commander Lt. Col. Arthur Pulmano and a certain Lt. Cmdr. Dela Cruz, executive officer of the CEISSAFP’s 3rd Group, as engineers and two more CEISS-AFP officers as foremen.

The complainants said AFP officials can easily validate their claim by simply sending a team to Costes’ house and monitoring the activities at the CEISS-AFP.

The soldiers are required to wear civilian clothes when they leave the CEISS-AFP headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. in the AFP-issued van (XCW-383) after gassing up at the CEISS-AFP’s fuel depot, they said.

The complainants also urged AFP officials to look into the CEISS-AFP’s fuel allocation, which is reportedly distributed to Costes and his friends.

Zagala said the complainants should come out in the open and formalize their complaint.