ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines ? The military has denied issuing a shoot-to-kill order against a Navy officer who blew the whistle on the alleged misuse of the P46-million budget for the 2007 Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) joint exercises between Filipino and American soldiers.

"We don't issue shoot to kill order in the military," Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Inspector General, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) in a phone interview.

"Even if you review all publications on Articles of War, there is no such thing as shoot-to-kill order," said Marayag, who is leading an investigation into Gadian?s allegations.

Marayag said it would take ?some time? before his office comes up with a report on the Gadian case.

?We are not looking here at Gadian. We are looking at the allegations she has raised,? he said.

Gadian's sister, Nedina Gadian-Diamante, filed for a Writ of Amparo before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, saying the Navy officer claimed in a text message that her life was in danger after a shoot-to-kill order was issued against her.

Marayag said Diamante should prove that there was a shoot-to-kill order and identify the person who issued it.

"I have been in military service for 37 years and we never issue a shoot-to-kill order to anyone especially one of our own," Marayag said.