MANILA, Philippines—Resolutions were filed in both the Senate and House of Representatives yesterday seeking an investigation into allegations made by a junior naval officer that P46 million earmarked for joint Philippine-United States military exercise was misused.

In her Resolution No. 1071, Sen. Pia Cayetano called for an inquiry into the Balikatan scandal and protection for the whistle-blower, Lt. Nancy Gadian, who is “now hiding and fears for her life.”

At the House, a similar resolution was filed by Bayan Muna party-list Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Neri Javier Colmenares.

Casiño said in a press conference he and his colleagues were seeking a probe into Gadian’s allegations that former Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo and other officers misused P40 million of a P46 million budget allotted for the RP-US Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises in 2007.

Gadian was the assistant chief of staff for civil operations that oversaw the Balikatan exercises held in Zamboanga del Sur, Sulu and Cotabato that year.

Cedo, now retired, denied the accusation, saying he did not disburse any Balikatan funds.

In their resolution, the three party-list representatives denounced a “vilification campaign” by leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines against Gadian, whom they described as “a woman and mother who has nothing to gain and everything to lose for standing up against the powerful and corrupt in the AFP.”

Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza said she would file a separate resolution to probe Gadian’s complaints of harassment and threats against her and her family.

Maza said she has been in contact with Gadian through the phone.

At Camp Aguinaldo, however, the chief of the Philippine Navy told reporters he would discourage Gadian from going to Congress.

Instead, he promised her “absolute protection” if she returned to her military unit.

“We give her a total guarantee, 100-percent absolute protection as a member of the Philippine Navy. She can voluntarily come to us,” said Vice Adm. Ferdinand Golez on the sidelines of a Maritime Stakeholders Summit.

He said that instead of going to other investigating bodies, the 40-year-old Gadian must avail herself of the military’s grievance system and follow the regulations for members of the Armed Forces.

Golez said there was no “manhunt” ordered for Gadian. He said the Navy issued an “apprehension order” for her last week because she failed to report back to work following a 30-day leave that began on March 9. With a report from Jocelyn R. Uy