Ateneo backs whistle-blowers in AFP corruption scandals

The Ateneo de Manila University is set to hold a noise barrage on Friday afternoon in support of Heidi Mendoza, a former government auditor who followed the money trail left by former miitary comptroller Carlos F. Garcia, who is facing a multimillion plunder suit. An advisory from Ateneo's University Communications and Public Relations said the protest is also in support of other whisteblowers in corruption scandals currently hounding the Armed Forces of the Philippines and its former chiefs of staff. The advisory said the noise barrage will be held at the university's Gate 2.5 at 5 p.m.
Mendoza had testified in inquiries being conducted separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives. The two chambers of Congress are looking into the plea baragaining agreement between Garcia and the Office of the Ombudsman. The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan said it has not yet approved the controversial deal, but Garcia was already allowed to plead guilty to two lesser offenses and to post a P60,000 bail that gave him temporary freedom. Mendoza, who headed the Commission on Audit team in uncovering Garcia's alleged ill-gotten wealth, has testified on the pressures she went through while conducting the investigation. She claimed her former COA superiors and even the Office of the Ombudsman under the leadership of Merceditas Gutierrez tried to dissuade her from following Garcia's money trial. Mendoza had testified how millions of AFP funds from various sources have allegedly gone missing during Garcia's stint as comptroller. Rabusa and Lim The other whistle-blowers in the corruption mess are former AFP budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa and his erstwhile subordinate, Col. Antonio "Sonny" Lim. Rabusa had exposed the practice of giving "pabaon" or send-off money to outgoing military chiefs. He said those who benefited from this practice include former AFP chiefs of staff Angelo Reyes (P50 million), Diomedio Villanueva (P160 million), and Roy Cimatu (P80 million). For his part, Lim corroborated Rabusa's allegation that Reyes received P50 million upon his retirement in March 2001. At a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing last Thursday, Lim said he was present when Rabusa handed the money to Reyes. Lim also testified that Villanueva and Cimatu likewise received P5 million monthly, just like Reyes. Mendoza, Rabusa, and Lim have all applied for coverage under the Department of Justice's Witness Protection Program (WPP). Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has said she had approved the provisional custody for Mendoza and Rabusa. In a television interview on Friday, De Lima said Lim has also been placed under the WPP's provisional coverage. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV