AFP tightens up on fuel use

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has implemented reforms in the use of its fuel fleet cards following allegations of fuel fund misuse.

But the AFP exonerated its chief military logistics officer of complicity in the alleged scam and denied there was a questionable spike in fuel expenses in the first quarter of the year.

An internal probe by the military Judge Advocate General, Internal Auditor and Provost Marshal General cleared AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for logistics Commodore Teddy Pan (J4) who is retiring later this month at the age of 56.

“There was no reported spike (in fuel expenses). All the fleet cards were accounted for,” said AFP spokesperson Commodore Miguel Rodriguez, who is the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for civil military operations (J7).

The probe was prompted by news reports that Pan’s office had spent P440 million in petroleum oil and lubricants for its general headquarters and the military-wide service support even though the quarterly quota was only P150 million.