PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, August 14, announced the dismissal of Philippine Military Academy comptroller Hector Maraña for purportedly malversing P15 million worth of cadet funds.
In a speech delivered at Palace's Rizal Hall, Duterte said he received a report only on Monday, August 14, about Maraña's supposed "fraud against government," a conduct considered as "unbecoming an officer and a gentleman" and "prejudicial to the good order and the military discipline."
"It just came in yesterday. And you wouldn't believe it. It's the military. Maraña? Maraña was the comptroller of PMA, the premiere military institution where we get the most brightest and the best of our doctors and soldiers," Duterte told his audience.
"I approved his dismissal. And he was the comptroller of PMA. He malversed P15 million of the cadets' allowance. And in the military, you do not complain," he added.
Duterte then signed a document, recommending the imprisonment of Maraña for six to 12 years.
"He was recommended to be imprisoned, six to 12 years. This is good. Send the guy to hell, that's an order," he said as he handed the document to an aide.
Duterte made the pronouncement just a day after Malacañang announced the firing of around 20 high-ranking military officials over the supposedly P1.491-million ghost procurement at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center, also known as V. Luna Medical Center, in Quezon City. (SunStar Philippines)