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Saturday, February 23, 2008
Military commander under probe for graft
MANILA -- A senior Philippine military commander is under investigation for alleged corruption in a move intended to show the armed forces is tackling graft, the army said Friday.
Army chief Alexander Yano said the Philippine Army has ordered an investigation against one of its ranking officers investigated for a number of offenses, including the mismanagement of funds for government militiamen.
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Major General Jose Barbieto, commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, has taken a leave of absence pending the conduct of the investigation by the Army's inspector general, Major General Samuel Narcise, Yano told reporters in Fort Bonifacio.
In a statement, Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said Barbieto relinquished his duties to his deputy last week following allegations that he and other military personnel extorted money from new recruits or those seeking reinstatement.
Barbieto also was accused of mismanaging funds for government-armed militias helping security forces battle Muslim and communist rebels, Torres said.
The statement did not explain who was making the claims against Barbieto, who could not immediately be reached for comment.
Yano said the investigation proved the military was serious about cleansing its ranks of corrupt officers.
"This is unprecedented. Our reforms are not only lip service. Regardless of rank or position, we will not condone malpractice and abuses," said Yano, adding that Barbieto might be tried by a court martial if there is evidence against him.
Barbieto is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976. His classmates include Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Navy Chief Rogelio Calunsag, and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon Jr., among others.
Yano said the investigation is not bound by any timeline but he assured that the investigation would be "fast and quick." He also said: "I look at this a very serious allegation."
Barbieto's deputy, Brigadier General Roland Rodriquez, had been named as the officer-in-charge of the 4th Infantry Division.
Torres said Barbieto is "taking a leave in order to give way to an impartial investigation on certain allegations against him. This would allow him a chance to clear his name on purported mismanagement of personnel and resources."
"Investigation of officers at this level may not be ordinary but it is definitely within the military justice system. Reports reaching this headquarters associate Major General Barbieto and other personnel of his command to the following misdemeanors," added Torres.
Torres further said the charges hurled against Barbieto include extortion of candidate soldier applicants and those applying for reinstatement, Citizen's Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) fund mismanagement, and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.
"This is being done as part of a process to resolve issues promptly. It is expected that this course of action would result in either penalizing those who have transgressed existing military laws or clear the names of military personnel incriminated in the alleged offenses," said Torres.
Rampant graft in the 117,000-strong armed forces has sparked several rebellions by disgruntled troops in recent years. Soldiers have been struggling with a lack of weapons and equipment in the face of insurgencies and terror threats.
Torres said Yano had already urged troops at Barbieto's unit in Cagayan de Oro "to stay united and focused on their jobs amid the political noise" -- an apparent reference to turmoil in Manila over allegations of corruption in government too.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who survived four attempted coups in seven years, has sought to downplay a potentially damaging scandal, in which several senior government officials and her husband have been implicated.
If the investigation into Barbieto leads to an indictment, he would be the second high-ranking officer to face a court martial for alleged corruption in recent years.
In December 2005, a military court found former Major General Carlos Garcia guilty of massive corruption and syphoning off millions of dollars (euros) while handling the military's budget.
Garcia was sentenced to two years of hard labor and dishonorably discharged. He was separately being tried for plunder by a civilian anti-graft court for allegedly illegally amassing 303 million pesos (US$7.2 million; euro4.9 million) while in the military. (VR/Sunnex/AP)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (February 23, 2008 issue)
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