Whistle-blower Rabusa joins 'Mabuting Pilipino' campaign

Former military budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa on Monday graced the anti-corruption advocates' launch of "Mabuting Pilipino," a movement seeking to promote good governance and responsible citizenship in the Philippines. The group is led by former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquel and resigned Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. A statement from the group said the following institutions, civil societies, and reform-oriented organizations comprise the Mabuting Pilipino: InciteGov, Ateneo School of Government, University of the Philippines CSSP Student Council, Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), Active Citizenship Foundation, People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR), Young Public Servants (YPS), LWUA Employees Association for Progress (LEAP) Yellow Army in Action, Para sa Bansa, Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) Akbayan youth and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP). Military corruption Rabusa is yet to file before the Department of Justice his formal complaint-affidavit that will initiate the preliminary investigation against former members of the military's top brass. Rabusa was placed under state protection after he blew the whistle on alleged corrupt practices in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Rabusa alleged that former AFP chief of staff Angelo Reyes received a P50-million pabaon (send-off money) when he retired in 2001. Reyes, who denied the allegations, took his own life weeks after Rabusa made the exposé. He also claimed that incoming military chiefs of staff also received millions worth of pasalubong (welcome gift) when they held the post. Among those Rabusa recently linked to alleged corruption was former AFP chief Diomedio Villanueva, who admitted renting a house inside a posh subdivision in Quezon City for "secret meetings" with public officials when he still headed the military. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMA News