General accused of extortion, fund mismanagement now facing pre-trial probe
03/12/2008 | 04:07 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Army has initiated its pre-trial investigation on Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto, the erstwhile commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division who is accused of demanding payment from enlistment applicants and fund mismanagement.
In a chance interview in Camp Aguinaldo, Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said the investigation may lead to the conduct of court martial proceedings against Barbieto, once probers establish strong evidence against the 55-year-old general.
Yano said the pre-trial investigation, which began this week, “will determine if it warrants the conduct of court martial proceedings. So we are in that stage...This pre-trial will determine if the case would warrant court martial proceedings. We are going to establish that in the pre-trial investigation."
Yano said the team conducting the pre-trial investigating against Barbieto is looking into
possible violation of the Article of War 96 or conduct unbecoming of an officer “ and other offenses that may be found by the pre-trial investigation."
For his part, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the pre-trial investigation was prompted by the recommendation by the team from the Army’s Inspector General office that conducted the initial probe.
He said the initial probe have established evidence to pursue the case against Barbieto.
The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting a separate probe against Barbieto for graft and has ordered the suspension of Barbieto for six months, pending the probe. Barbieto is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 in September this year.
Yano said Barbieto, a classmate of AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr in the Philippine Military Academy class of 1974, is under the custody of Army's Headquarters Support Group while being investigated for his alleged crimes.
“We will give him all the due process and when we say due process he will also have to defend himself, clear his name. Although we want it quick and fast, he will also be given his chance to defend himself," Yano assured.
When asked if the pre-trial investigation would be completed before his retirement, Yano said: “That will depend on the proceedings if ever there will be a court martial that will happen."
Barbieto was accused of extorting between P25,000 to P30,000 from people who are seeking enlistment in the military. Also, Barbieto is also accused of mismanaging an undisclosed amount of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) funds. - GMANews.TV
In a chance interview in Camp Aguinaldo, Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said the investigation may lead to the conduct of court martial proceedings against Barbieto, once probers establish strong evidence against the 55-year-old general.
Yano said the pre-trial investigation, which began this week, “will determine if it warrants the conduct of court martial proceedings. So we are in that stage...This pre-trial will determine if the case would warrant court martial proceedings. We are going to establish that in the pre-trial investigation."
Yano said the team conducting the pre-trial investigating against Barbieto is looking into
possible violation of the Article of War 96 or conduct unbecoming of an officer “ and other offenses that may be found by the pre-trial investigation."
For his part, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the pre-trial investigation was prompted by the recommendation by the team from the Army’s Inspector General office that conducted the initial probe.
He said the initial probe have established evidence to pursue the case against Barbieto.
The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting a separate probe against Barbieto for graft and has ordered the suspension of Barbieto for six months, pending the probe. Barbieto is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 in September this year.
Yano said Barbieto, a classmate of AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr in the Philippine Military Academy class of 1974, is under the custody of Army's Headquarters Support Group while being investigated for his alleged crimes.
“We will give him all the due process and when we say due process he will also have to defend himself, clear his name. Although we want it quick and fast, he will also be given his chance to defend himself," Yano assured.
When asked if the pre-trial investigation would be completed before his retirement, Yano said: “That will depend on the proceedings if ever there will be a court martial that will happen."
Barbieto was accused of extorting between P25,000 to P30,000 from people who are seeking enlistment in the military. Also, Barbieto is also accused of mismanaging an undisclosed amount of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) funds. - GMANews.TV
