MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Navy junior officer who blew the whistle on an alleged P46-million military fund scandal has 48 hours to surrender and “avail” herself of protection and assistance, the Navy’s spokesperson said Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo announced that Lt. Nancy Gadian, who has gone into hiding, could voluntarily submit herself to any military installation until 10 a.m. on Friday, coinciding with the Navy’s 111th founding anniversary.

If she does not, Arevalo said the military would be “constrained to follow the normal procedures established under military regulations.” This means she will be declared a deserter and dropped from the rolls after 90 days, Arevalo told reporters.

The Navy issued an “apprehension alarm” against Gadian last week for failing to report back to work on April 22 following a 30-day leave.

Gadian in a radio interview accused retired Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, then chief of the Western Mindanao Command, and other senior officers of misusing the P46 million intended for the RP-US Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises in 2007. Cedo has denied the allegations.

Unprocessed resignation

Earlier, Gadian’s lawyer said the junior officer had resigned and could not be considered a deserter. Gadian has told reporters by phone that she would come out “at the right time and in the proper forum.”

But Arevalo said Gadian’s resignation letter dated April 16 could not yet be processed as she is still facing trial before the Navy’s Efficiency and Separation Board for insubordination and lavish hotel spending.

Explaining the need to give Gadian a surrender deadline, Arevalo said the military “can no longer allow itself to be dragged into a still unfounded controversy.”

“There has to be an investigation as to who misused the funds and who caused it so that there will be determination of guilt, rectification and correction of certain policies,” he said.

“It can no longer be said that we did not give her the opportunity to give her a venue where she can air her side,” he said.

Resolutions have been filed in the Senate and the House of Representatives calling for an inquiry into Gadian’s charges.

The military, however, said that complaints from officers should be heard within the military justice system.

Defense dep’t probe

Following a directive from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro created a three-man committee to investigate Gadian’s claims, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Wednesday.

The committee is composed of three undersecretaries and is headed by Undersecretary Alberto Valenzuela.

Ermita advised Cedo to make himself available for the investigation. He said Gadian should submit herself to the chain of command because she is still in active service.

PAGC, too

He also said that the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) could conduct an investigation.

“Nothing would prevent them … But at least to let them know, we’re under one supervision, the Office of the President, PAGC can start something but is made aware that already the secretary of defense is doing that,” he said.

The PAGC has maintained that it can initiate an investigation of a case if no other agency is doing it.

“We have the military justice system. They have to attend to it within the chain of command and, therefore, we have to await the investigation of the three-man body.”