AFP widens probe on '07 Balikatan fund mess

MANILA, Philippines – After being directed by Malacañang, the Armed Forces said Friday it would widen its investigation into the alleged misuse of funds during the 2007 RP-US Balikatan exercises. "We are now conducting a bigger and a deeper investigation into the matter to find out really the allegations that were brought up by Lt. S.G. (Nancy) Gadian," said Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, military information chief. Heading the investigation is no less than military chief, Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, Brawner said. Brawner said that if the military was really bent on getting to the bottom of the funding controversy, it would have to re-examine all the details that went to the planning and execution stages of the joint military exercises between the Philippines and the United States two years ago in southern Philippines. The Balikatan exercises, birthed under the auspices of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, has been annually carried out since 1991, except from 1995 to 1999 when jurisdiction disputes regarding the agreement cropped up. Brawner said that the expanded investigation on supposed anomalies that surrounded the P46-million Balikatan 2007 funds would involve inviting all officials – including retired Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo – who were involved in the undertaking. "Sila Gadian, Cedo, yung directorate ng Balikatan and lahat yung mga involved dun, yung mga planners ng Balikatan during that time, lahat sila iimbitahan [Gadian, Cedo, the Balikatan directorate at that time and all the planners will be invited]," Brawner said. Cedo – former head of the Western Mindanao Command – was accused by Gadian of pocketing portions of the P4-million fund for the civil military operations under the Westmincom in southern Philippines. The Palace on Thursday directed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr and the AFP to investigate claims made by Gadian, who also said that even the entire P46-million 2007 Balikatan fund had been riddled with malversation. In its investigation, the AFP said it also plans on going over every paper trail produced for the 2007 joint military exercises. "Paano nila ginawa yung program of expenditures nila? Paano na-irelease yung pera from appropriations? Paano dumating yung pera sa Armed Forces? Paano ito dinistribute? Sinu-sino yung mga tumanggap ng mga perang ito? Paano nila dinisburse yung mga pondo na iyon? Ano yung naging auditing ng ating internal audit? Ano yung naging auditing ng Commission on Audit natin and so on," Brawner said. [How did they execute their program of expenditures? How was the appropriations made? How did it get to the Armed Forces? How was the money distributed? Who received the money? How did they disburse the fund? What was the internal auditing process? What did the Commission on Audit do?] No case vs Cedo? Brawner admitted that even if they found probable cause against Cedo administratively, the AFP would still no longer be able to spearhead lodging complaints since the latter is already a retired official. Cedo retired in late 2007. "But what we are doing now is just that - making the investigation and coming out with an official report for the Secretary of National Defense and for the President of the Republic," he assured. Cedo is not the only military officer being implicated in the mess. His accuser, Gadian, is currently the subject of an investigation by the Navy’s Efficiency and Separation Board (ESB) for allegedly committing three misconducts: (1) false declaration and misuse of funds (2) extravagant expenditure and (3) refusal to appear before the investigating committee under Cedo’s Westmincom. Gadian belied the accusations but has been in hiding since she dropped the bombshell on the Balikatan fund mess. She said that she and her lawyers are still planning for their next move – to divulge more Balikatan anomalies and implicate more names at the proper time and forum. As a procedural measure, the Philippine Navy earlier issued an apprehension order against Gadian for her absence without official leave (AWOL) that had been going on since her official leave expired last April 21. Safety assured Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo told GMANews.TV that the investigation was not crafted to pin down Gadian but merely to give her an appropriate avenue to explain why she had gone into hiding. "Technically, she’s still a member of the AFP. She will be asked to explain why she was not able to report, went into AWOL, and became a ‘deserter.’ But it does not necessarily mean she will immediately be meted with punishment," Arevalo said. Brawner gave out the same assurance that Gadian’s case will be handled fairly. "When she comes out she will be treated humanely and that she will be secured by the Philippine Navy so dapat wala syang ipangamba na mapapahamak yung kanyang buhay pati na rin yung buhay ng kanyang pamilya [She, including her family, has nothing to fear]," Brawner said. Gadian raised concerns about the safety of her family – especially her two children, who she claimed have already been placed under surveillance “probably as a form of harassment." - GMANews.TV