Aquino wants charges vs ‘corrupt’ AFP officials in 90 days

Published May 31, 2011 7:43pm

President Benigno Aquino III has given the go-signal for the filing of charges against military officials involved in fund misuse based on the investigation conducted by the Department of National Defense (DND). In Memorandum Order 17 signed May 25, Aquino ordered the DND to coordinate with the Department of Justice to determine the criminal and/or administrative cases that may be filed against erring officers or personnel based on its findings. Aquino gave DND and DOJ 90 days to submit a report to his office on whether charges have been filed against the involved officials. He also asked the two agencies to state the reasons if ever cases were not filed. The investigation conducted by the DND stemmed from allegations made during congressional inquiries that some past Armed Forces chiefs and comptrollers earned millions of pesos worth in ill-gotten wealth during their stints in the military. DND spokesman Eduardo Batac had earlier admitted that there was corruption in the military, but all that was in the past and that reforms had already been taken to curb it. Aquino, in MO 17, also directed DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to conduct and finish within 60 days a comprehensive and intensified review on the status of the implementation of reform programs in the defense and military establishment particularly relating to:

the Defense System of Management (DSOM)

the improvement of logistics capacity to address, among others urgent requirements for combat operations;

the transparent implementation of AFP Capability Upgrade Program (CUP) that optimizes the use of the Modernization Trust Fund through a centralized defense acquisition system under the DND that is fully compliant with the Government Procurement Act (Republic Act No. 9184); and

the optimization of the defense budget and improved financial and management controls that pushes resources to operating units down to the company commanders and minimizes centrally managed funds in the AFP General Headquarters. Aquino also ordered Gazmin and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of current policies, guidelines and processes in relation to the stewardship of public funds by the DND and the AFP. A joint report and recommendations should be submitted to the Office of the President within 60 days and Gazmin should incorporate the findings into the reform programs and ensure their full and immediate implementation. Gazmin and Abad should also submit quarterly reports to the President on the progress of reforms being implemented. - Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News

Tags: afpcorruption