De Lima decries dismissal of plunder case vs retired AFP generals

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman missed a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to go after plunderers in the military, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Wednesday.

De Lima issued the statement following the Ombudsman’s ruling dismissing the criminal complaint against retired Armed Forces chiefs of staffs Generals Diomedio Villanueva, Roy Cimatu and Efren Abu and Major Generals Carlos Garcia and Jacinto Ligot in connection with the alleged misspent P2.3 billion in military funds from 2000 to 2005.

“The Rabusa case is the single biggest military corruption case ever in Philippine history. The wide array of investigative (encompassing fact finding and case build up) should be brought to bear on those responsible,” De Lima said in a text message to reporters.

The Ombudsman, in dismissing the case that stemmed from the allegations of former military Budget Officer Colonel George Rabusa, said that even if Rabusa handed the money to the military officials, there was no proof that the money came from converted funds.

“With respect to the Ombudsman, if indeed Rabusa’s own testimony and voluminous documentary exhibits were not sufficient enough for a probable cause finding, they should have availed of, or maximized, the use of their case build up mechanisms/powers to strengthen the case, instead of dismissing the case or absolving the respondents at this point,” De Lima said.