Rabusa submits affidavit on AFP corruption, gets state protection

UPDATED 2:00 p.m. - Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima said former military budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa will be placed under the government's Witness Protection Program (WPP) beginning on Saturday. On Wednesday, Rabusa, who earlier revealed the practice of giving send-off money to retiring military chiefs, asked the DOJ to place him under the WPP. He also submitted an affidavit detailing what he knows about the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He later met with De Lima to discuss the terms of his witness protection coverage. However, Rabusa declined to speak with reporters or provide copies of his affidavit. At a news briefing after the meeting, De Lima said Rabusa will be placed under the WPP's provisional custody beginning only on Saturday. She explained that Rabusa is still under the Senate's protective custody after testifying at a Senate blue ribbon committee inquiry last week. She likewise said Rabusa will submit on Monday next week a separate complaint-affidavit which will serve as his complaint against alleged corrupt former military officials whom the DOJ will investigate. "He is completing the more exhaustive affidavit, which will serve as his complaint affidavit. This affidavit is very detailed and he will be submitting on Monday," said De Lima. Death threats At a Senate hearing last week, Rabusa accused former Defense chief Angelo Reyes of receiving around P100 million while he served as AFP chief of staff, and not less than P50 million more as "pabaon" (send-off money) when he retired in March 2001. He likewise claimed that other military heads benefited from the practice of giving "pabaon." Reyes had denied the allegations and said he would sue Rabusa for libel. Reyes also filed graft charges against Rabusa and Senate Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada before the Office of the Ombudsman. On Wednesday, De Lima said Rabusa and his lawyer, Noel Malaya, have been getting death threats because of the "pabaon" exposé. "They have been getting threats over their cellphones. Specific threats," said De Lima, who also appealed to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to assist Malaya and condemn the threats made against him. "You know, lawyers are just lawyers. Why are they also being threatened?" she asked. De Lima said Malaya had received a threat, which read: "Ano ba ang importante sayo? Popularity o ang pamilya mo? (Which is more important to you? Popularity or your family?)" Heidi Mendoza Before Rabusa applied for WPP coverage, the DOJ had already placed former government auditor Heidi Mendoza under the WPP's provisional coverage. De Lima said she immediately approved the provisional coverage while the department assesses her application for full coverage. "I approved right away the provisional coverage. Since those who are being implicated here are powerful people, you cannot downplay any security threat. You cannot be too complacent," said De Lima on Tuesday. Mendoza had followed the money trail of former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, who is facing a P303-million plunder suit at the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court. Garcia is out on bail after being allowed to plead guilty to two lighter offenses, even if the Sandiganbayan has yet to approve the plea bargaining agreement he made with Ombudsman special prosecutors. – VVP, GMANews.TV