Ex-general: I had Gadian investigated for fund release

MANILA, Philippines — Retired Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo on Wednesday denied the allegations of a junior Navy officer that he pocketed money meant for the RP-US military exercises in Mindanao two years ago. He said Navy Lt. Senior Grade Nancy Gadian was just trying to get back at him for having her investigated for alleged illegal disbursement of funds. “She is merely trying to destroy my reputation, she is destroying my name and my reputation as a general because Lieutenant Gadian is the subject of my formal report to chief of staff for malversation of funds that she received," said Cedo, a former chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom). Cedo said he could not have stolen any Balikatan fund since no money was released to the Wesmincom for the Balikatan exercises in 2007. “During my tenure as commander of the Western Mindanao Command, the commander did not receive anything (money) for the Balikatan exercise, higher headquarters know that," he said. He claimed he ordered Gadian investigated later when she attempted to disburse without authorization the amount of P2 million. He said the money came from Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but did not say if this was for joint exercises. Cedo said he learned that Gadian is now under investigation in the Efficiency and Separation Board of the Navy. “Officers of the AFP who face the Separation bBoard are only those who are incompetent, have anomalous activities or have questionable reputation," he said. Sought for her reaction, Gadian denied getting the money. She said the fund went to a colonel, whom she described only as the fund custodian. “I just acknowledged the delivery. I acknowledged that a money was released to our custodian," Gadian said. Asked if Cedo was aware of the release, she said: “We made memorandums for the commanders." She said that since the money was for Balikatan, it should be the higher headquarters who should inform Cedo. - GMANews.TV