Outgoing AFP chief Dellosa bares death threats in war on corruption

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City—Revealing he had received death threats, outgoing Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Jessie Dellosa, on Saturday said the military needs to increase the number of personnel handling internal affairs in the course of improving and correcting purchase and budgetary procedures.

He said battles in the front lines are not as difficult as battles within the Armed Forces of the Philippines, now that changes in the protocol for procurement of supplies had unearthed more anomalous transactions, this time in AFP-run hospitals.

Dellosa discussed this partly in his speech after he was given a testimonial parade by the Philippine Military Academy in honor of his retirement on Jan. 20, when he turns 56 years old.

“In the furtherance of security sector reform, I would also like to emphasize that battles are fought not only in the front lines but also in our headquarters and workplaces to realize a more professional, efficient and morally upright military institution,” he said.

“All too often internal reform is much more difficult, as institutional and cultural barriers have prevented us from acknowledging our shortfalls and deficiencies. But change we must and malpractices we must spurn,” Dellosa said.

“My experience in this office leads me to say that the AFP needs to enhance the capability of [its] investigative staff and offices in view of the increasing and sensitive tasks they handle,” he said.

These offices and personnel, he said, probe abuses or infractions “that could potentially tarnish the image of the military.”

In a press conference, Dellosa said part of the reforms his

administration undertook involved fixing the procedures for restocking and equipping military hospitals, where more anomalous transactions had been discovered. He, however, declined to provide details of the investigation and the amount of money involved in these irregularities.

“Actually, we have received death threats,” Dellosa said. “But I have to continue this. Not only me but also other officers who are involved in reforms. We don’t mind [the threats], for as long as we are doing the right thing.”

Dellosa said his administration had reviewed the procurement and financial transactions of supply firms with hospitals, like the AFP Medical Center (V. Luna Hospital) “which did not receive the proper attention before and which turned up many anomalies.”