Whistleblower widens net; pulls in more AFP officers in graft charges

Former Military Budget Officer files amended complaint to include additional military officials and state auditors. Senior State Prosecutor Peter Ong looks at documents submitted by Rabusa. Tetch Torres/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Whistle-blower George Rabusa  filed on Wednesday an amendment to his plunder complaint, which implicated  more officials to alleged fund anomalies in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In his amended complaint, Rabusa included North Luzon Command Head Lieutenant General Gaudencio, retired Major General Ernesto Boac, and state auditors Arturo Besana, Crisanto Gabriel and Manuel Warren.

Rabusa said Boac may have participated in questionable activities when he served as budget officer of the Office of the Comptroller (J6), while the other auditors may have had a hand in the misuse of military funds.

“We amended the complaint after we obtained additional documents,” Rabusa said, adding that included as part of their evidence the testimony of retired Colonel Arnulfo Dela Cruz, a disbursing officer during the time of Rabusa.

In the complaint he filed two months ago, Rabusa identified in his plunder complaint AFP chiefs Efren Abu, Diomedio Villanueva and Roy Cimatu; and comptrollers Jacinto Ligot and Carlos Garcia.

Other respondents include Retired Major General Hilario Atendido, Brigadier General Benito de Leon,Colonels Tomas Donato and Roy Devesa, Major Emerson Angulo,  retired Lt. Col. Ernesto Paranis, Capt. Keneth Paglinawan, Col. Gilbert Gapay, Col. Roberto Arevalo, Maj. Gen. Epineto Logico (retired); and Commission on Audit officers Generoso del Castillo and Divina Cabrera.

Rabusa earlier revealed that retired AFP Chiefs of Staff Angelo Reyes received a regular P5-million payoff during his 20 months in office, and was gifted with some P50-milion, reportedly as ‘send off’ money upon his retirement. Diomedio Villanueva and Roy Cimatu, he said, each received P10-million as ‘start up funds.’