Ex-army chiefs in Philippines accused of corruption

Manila: Three former armed forces chiefs of staff have allegedly benefitted from a multi-million peso token send-off gift system in the military according to a plunder complaint filed yesterday by retired budget officer George Rabusa.

In an 87-page complaint filed by at the Department of Justice by retired Col Rabusa, ex-generals Diomedio Villanueva, Roy Cimatu and Efren Abu were allegedly given multi-million peso send-off gifts.

The plunder complaint, submitted by lawyer Noel Malaya on Rabusa's behalf, will serve as a basis for the justice department to conduct a preliminary investigation into lingering allegations of anomalies in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) involving the top brass. Generals Villanueva, Cimatu and Abu had served as chiefs of the AFP between 2001 to 2005.

Financial benefits

The move by Rabusa is also aimed at holding accountable formed senior armed forces chief for supposedly benefitting financially from military funds.

Along with the three former AFP chiefs, retired military budget officers generals Jacinto Ligot and Carlos F Garcia were also named in the plunder charge as well as recently retired Major Gen, Epineto Logico, Brigadier Hilario Atendido and Lt Col Ernesto Paranis.

Several serving military officials were also named in the plunder complaint as accomplices, namely Brig Benito de Leon, Colonels Carlo Tomas Donato, Roy Adevesa, Gilbert Gapay and Roberto Arevalo, Maj. Emerson Angulo and Capt. Kenneth Paglinawan.

Two officials of the Commission on Audit, Generoso del Castillo and Divina Cabrera, were also named in the charge.

"We have testimony of the persons involved. I think we have a strong case… There have been even admissions in the Senate hearing," Malaya was quoted as saying referring to sessions conducted by the Upper Chamber to investigate allegations earlier made by Rabusa on the corruption involving military funds.

Rabusa, during the senate hearings several weeks ago, revealed rampant misuse of military funds that includes informal allocations of P50 million (Dh4.25 million) to retiring armed forces chiefs.