5 ex-AFP chiefs deny receiving pay-offs

By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News

Published February 1, 2011 2:21pm

Five former military chiefs on Tuesday categorically denied receiving pay-offs from military funds either upon assuming office or upon their retirement. The former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chiefs of staff during the Arroyo administration who told the House justice committee that they did not receive any pay-offs were:

Dionisio Santiago;

Narciso Abaya;

Alexander Yano;

Generoso Senga, and

Hermogenes Esperon. The former military chiefs were invited to a House probe to shed light on the controversial plea bargain deal entered by special prosecutors and ex-military comptroller Carlos Garcia. However, they ended up being questioned about the pay-offs after former military officer George Rabusa revealed in a Senate inquiry last week the supposed practice in the AFP of paying off its top brass with huge amounts of money from pooled military funds upon their retirement. The five retired generals also said their families did not receive any benefits from military funds, except for their monthly compensations and occasional trips abroad funded by the host country. The members of the House committee on justice are still interrogating the former AFP chiefs on the supposed â€œpabaon" system in the military as of posting time. â€“ VVP, GMANews.TV

Tags: armedforcesofthephilippines, carlosgarcia