15 Simple Steps to restore the AFP's credibility

From Ernie Maceda:

1st — Terminate the pre-trial investigation within one week and file six cases against Maj. Gen. Garcia with about 1,000 counts (that's only 250 checks and transactions in four years as J4 and J6).

2nd — Open an investigation into the contracts entered into by former Chiefs of Staff Angelo Reyes, Diomedio Villanueva, Roy Cimatu, Benjamin Defensor, Dionisio Santiago and retiring Narciso Abaya. This act will show courage.

3rd — Release the names of the 10 top suppliers for every branch of service, the list and amount of contracts they received, ask them to explain how they got their contracts under pain of blacklisting. Find out who their political backers are.

4th — Get the list of generals and colonels with deposits in the AFP Savings and Loans Association Inc. and the different AFP savings associations and cooperatives, ask them to explain and if unsatisfactory ask for their retirement or voluntary resignation. They don't need their measly retirement money anymore. They already got it in advance.

5th — Prohibit the practice of conversion and authorize a realistic cash advance “for exigencies” for field units only with the following suggested scale: P500,000 for a division; P200,000 for a brigade; P100,00 for a battalion and P20,000 for a company. Ask that liquidation be made every three months.

6th — Check and prevent ghost deliveries by organizing chief of staff inspection teams to check and count the inventories of items delivered such as boots, uniforms, ammunition, other CCIE. Make field commanders and their quartermasters report promptly on what and when items are delivered.

7th — Issue stricter guidelines for the use and reporting of intelligence funds. The chief of staff must announce he will personally check disbursement of intelligence funds.

8th — He must tell Mrs. Abu to hold a meeting with military spouses and say that henceforth, wives are strictly prohibited from interceding for suppliers, following up approval of vouchers and release of checks. And no expensive jewelry, please.

9th — Prohibit travels abroad at the expense of airplane manufacturers, tank and vehicle producers and other major equipment sellers at the expense of the suppliers.

10th — Instruct officers of general rank to inform him of plans to buy or build a house, send kids to foreign schools and other major expense items not ordinarily afforded.

11th — Be more transparent by announcing three months in advance planned major purchases of equipment and supplies and materials.

12th — Announce what major contracts are about to be awarded and specify what has been approved by or what will be submitted to the Commander-in-Chief for approval.

13th — Downgrade the comptrollership position and follow the recommendations of the Feliciano Commission.

14th — Monitor closely the splitting or “chop-chop” of contracts and payments. Impose a limit of not more than 30 percent of contracts and checks approved at the authority level or 30 percent below in any quarter. There is a practice that when a unit is given the authority to award contracts or make payments of let's say P1 million, as much as 80-90 percent of awards or payments to the same supplier is at that level.

15th — Gen. Abu must now release the names of his wife, his children, his relatives and in-laws to the 4th civil degree, call them to a family reunion and advise them not to be seen in military offices or be seen with suppliers or contractors.

Simple, di ba? Can Gen. Abu do it? Will the AFP strike gold or turn into ashes under him?

Now, anybody bypassed by Gen. Abu can report to the Commission on Appointments any irregularities they know of having transpired in the Philippine Army.

He also blames Edsa Dos for politicizing the military:

Dr. Carolina Hernandez, a highly respected University of the Philippines professor and member of the Feliciano Commission, has made an intelligent suggestion in the light of the confirmation of widespread corruption in the AFP. Dr. Hernandez recommends that the office of the secretary of National Defense be totally civilianized. She suggests the three incumbent undersecretaries who are retired generals be replaced by “civilians.” We agree. The other side of the coin too, that retired military men be not appointed to other civilian positions. There is no urgent reason for a retired AFP general to be placed in charge of the police and local government officials.

We reiterate, the ill effect of Edsa II was to unleash military forces again from the barracks, to obscure the constitutional rule of civilian supremacy over the military and to create a cabal of untouchables who feel they can do anything they want to without fear of presidential wrath.

Will Kompil II and civil society, will Dick Romulo, Bill Luz, the Ayalas and the Makati Business Club, will the broadcast media now apologize to the nation for imposing this situation on an impoverished citizens? Where's their anger against corruption which they demonstrated in Edsa II?

Yes, it took 15 years to get rid of the ill effects of martial law, 15 years to put the Army back into the barracks after Edsa I. It looks like another bleak 15 years. And more if the corrupt generals take power in a spirit of self-preservation. It's time to pray.