MANILA, Philippines -- Three days before he retires, outgoing Armed Forces chief General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has approved a recommendation to court martial a military academy classmate and another soldier for alleged graft, the military’s spokesman said Friday.

Esperon, however, remanded the case of Major General Jose Barbieto and Staff Sergeant Roseller Echipare to the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, from Camp Aguinaldo, citing the heavy case load at military general headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro said.

Barbieto, Esperon's classmate at the Philippine Military Academy's 1974 "Marangal" Class will be tried for violating Articles of War 55 (making unlawful enlistment), 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman), and 97 (conduct prejudicial to goof order and military discipline).

Echipare will be tried for violating only Articles of War 55 and 97. He cannot be charged for violating Article of War 96 because he is not an officer.

"Initially the chief of staff has approved the conduct of a general court martial against General Barbieto but this will be conducted by the Philippine Army," Bacarro said.

Barbieto and Echipare allegedly extorted from military recruits while the former was the commander of the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City.

Among the cases being tried in Camp Aguinaldo are the charges against soldiers linked to failed uprisings in 2003 and 2006.

Esperon will relinquish his post to Lieutenant General Alexander Yano on Monday.

As Army chief, Yano ordered an investigation into the extortion allegations against Barbieto and Echipare in February.