Wipe the slate clean

The Defense Department announced that their investigation of AFP corruption will continue despite the suicide of former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes. It should be fairly easy for the DND investigating committee to determine how much of the savings from personnel services due to unfilled vacancies has been converted or realigned to other purposes every year for the last 10 years.

The House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee should now also look into this matter. Since the Finance Committee Chair, Senator Frank Drilon revealed that in the 2011 budget, P44 billion is the approved appropriation for personnel services, 20 percent of that would be P8.8 billion. Lt. Col. George Rabusa testified at the Senate that in 2002, more than P1 billion was converted principally thru ISAFP for ghost intelligence projects. All previous ISAFP Chiefs from General Victor Corpus to General Delfin Bangit must be held to account.

Lt. Col. George Rabusa’s revelations are just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to the conversion of funds, there is also the overpriced procurement of equipment, supplies and materials. There have been reports on the selling of guns and ammunitions. Also, the selling of gasoline by airforce personnel. Millions spent for C-130 repairs and drydock of Navy ships have been sources of corruption of top brass. The missing modernization fund have not been fully accounted for.

This is a God given opportunity for President Aquino and Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to clean up the AFP Augean stables once and for all. The PMA, the PMA Alumni Association and the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO) must now go into deep soul searching of why some of its brightest officers become corrupt. SGV and MAP must be brought in to improve the systems in the AFP.

The Commander-in-Chief must exercise decisive leadership on this matter.

* * *

CIMATU’S DENIAL . . . Upon arrival from Afghanistan, former Chief of Staff, General now Ambassador Roy Cimatu denied that he received any pasalubong or pabaon as testified by Lt. Col. George Rabusa and corroborated by Lt. Col. Sonny Lim.  

But at the House hearing, Gen. Benito de Leon, who served as Cimatu’s administrative assistant admitted he received P10 million in cash after first hesitating. He admitted that he thought it was irregular but he relented after Lt. Col. Rabusa assured him it was ok. He signed a receipt for the money. He also confirmed he told Cimatu about the cash received and Cimatu told him to take charge of disbursing it.

De Leon’s admission corroborates Rabusa and Sonny Lim’s testimony at the Senate.

* * *

P-NOY’S OFFER. . . Malacañang has confirmed that whistleblower Auditor Heidi Mendoza has been offered a new government post. It was not announced what position was offered but as an experienced auditor for 22 years, holder of a Master’s Degree in National Security Administration and a former Asian Development Bank officer, Heidi is qualified to be appointed to a high ranking job in an office that needs to be reformed. She would make a good Commissioner of Customs, Immigration Commissioner, Administrator of MWSS, National Irrigation Administration Administrator or head of a new reinvented Presidential Anti Graft Commission, or even higher.

Go for it Heidi. The people need you in government.

* * *

CONTINUE PUBLIC HEARINGS. . . Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Miriam D. Santiago are correct in their position that the hearings on AFP corruption should continue. This is a national security issue as conversion and diversion of AFP funds weakens the capability of the battalions in the field to subdue MILF rebels, Abu Sayyaf terrorists and NPA insurgents. The corrupt Generals and Colonels must be exposed and removed if the morale of the soldiers are to be maintained.

We cannot agree with Sen. Gringo Honasan’s proposal to hold the hearings in executive session or closed doors. The public has a right to know and that is superior to individual rights.

* * *

3 MANOK. . . A friend of P-Noy’s parents who comes from Tarlac told friends this story: He approached a new Aquino appointee for a contract worth P10 million. The official said:

“Tatang, approved na ito. Magdala ka na ng tatlong manok.” The applicant of the proposed contract then asked:

“Tatlong manok? Anong klase?”

To his surprise the official answered:

“Tatlong million, Tatang.”

* * *

TIDBITS. . . There has so far been no significant job creation programs during the first 7 months of P-Noy’s administration. No PPP projects have started. The number of unemployed Filipinos increased to 2.86 million in 2010.

President Aquino in a stunning reversal has removed the RH Bill from the list of priority measures to be submitted to Congress.

Senator Pia Cayetano is dismayed. Also removed from the priority list is The Freedom of Information Bill. . .

The public is waiting with bated breath for the Cabinet revamp to be announced next week. Will P-Noy finally let go of DILG Usec Rico E. Puno and Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez?

P-Noy was seen driving his Porsche at SLEX to Tagaytay over the weekend. . .

The suicide of General Angelo Reyes overshadowed the birthday of President Aquino . . . President Erap was among the first to condole with the family of Gen. Angelo Reyes. He praised him for his successful handling of the all-out war against the MILF, saying he’s a good General. . .

We can only add that maybe, if Gen. Angelo Reyes did not turn his back on Erap to install GMA in the Presidency, he would still be alive today, the MILF defeated and the AFP would still be a respected institution.

We condole with the family of Gen. Angelo Reyes. May he rest in peace.

Tune to our Mr. Expose program 5 p.m. today over DZRJ-AM 810 KHZ on your dial.