The new secretary of National Defense, Avelino “Nonong” Cruz, is now faced with the most difficult decision in his life.
Will he go all out and blow the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) generals' corruption case sky high with a full investigation or will he fold under and go into a full cover-up?
Sen. Johnny Enrile correctly said —this will “test the mettle of the new secretary of National Defense.” Will this be Nonong Cruz' Waterloo?
The whole AFP is buzzing with so many things happening. Among them is the house of Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the embattled comptroller, being raided a few days ago by persons who appeared to be military personnel or policemen.
They took the computers, diskettes and the files, but left the cash and the firearms. Obviously, some people are nervous.
Senior officers are panicking and have rushed to withdraw and close their bank accounts. Luxury vehicles have been moved out of their garage. Wives have been told not to wear jewelry.
Demands have been made on those involved to pay up or be exposed. Death threats have been hurled to hush people up.
Secretary Cruz, a big-time lawyer, should know those who engage in “conversion” are guilty of falsification and malversation, even plunder. And those who are into cover-up are accessories.
Commodore Rex Robles (retired) revealed three Cabinet members and 10 generals are involved in AFP corruption.
But what is equally surprising is the revelation that this was in a confidential report of the Feliciano Commission submitted to President Arroyo which has not been released to the public.
Robles also revealed that there transpired a three-hour meeting with Mrs. Arroyo on this “confidential part” as well as conferences called by Secretary Cruz and AFP chief Gen. Narciso Abaya.
Mrs. Arroyo must explain why she did not take appropriate action to investigate and charge the officials and generals concerned, in violation of her off-repeated directives for transparency and her declaration of war against corruption. Remember the State of the Nation Address?
Sen. Enrile, National Defense secretary for 17 years, knows what he is talking about when he says the present and past AFP chiefs of staff knew or should have known what is going on. Big contracts and subsequent big payments go to the chief of staff's office for approval. In fact about 21 signatures are required. And every signatory demands a share of the money.
Definitely, generals review their finances every quarter and before submission to the Department of Budget and Management and congressional hearings. They go over their proposed budget in detail.
A Philippine Military Academy graduate who has been promoted from 2nd lieutenant to general can easily spot unnecessary expenses or questionable payments during any of these procedures if he wants to.
The more logical conclusion: They knew. They were part of it. It's one big conspiracy. Look at Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan blaming the system and refusing to make public statements of assets and liabilities of AFP officers.
And the Commission on Audit auditors? Ah, well they get their share, too.
Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo is still holding his punches. Summon Commodore Rex Robles and Gen. Narciso Abaya today. Don't wait for the US Customs attaché to give you the names of at least two more generals with big deposits in America. Preempt them now.
This is the necessary effect of Edsa II. When you enlist generals in unseating a duly-elected President, they acquire an attitude of immunity and impunity. Their offices are a private preserve. They become untouchables.
Now you know why we have a long running insurgency — New People's Army, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front. Now you know why 11 battalions cannot crush 100 Abu Sayyaf rebels. Now you know why the soldiers have no boots. Now you know why the 300 “best and brightest” junior officers were driven to mutiny. The funds do not reach the field units. They go abroad.
Who's to blame? The buck, the big bucks stop at the desk of the Commander-in-Chief...Her latest statement is that there will be “no cover-up.” It has already happened.
The Arroyo presidency has reached a “critical stage” according to US political analysts. The final curtain, Frank Sinatra?
I can't believe our local officials are still trying to protect the identity of 2 other corrupt generals in the Armed Forces. Are they that stupid? Lalabas rin ang mga pangalan nila eh, whether they like it or not.
Better pre-empt the US customs officials. Unahan nyo na sila sa pag-release ng pangalan ng 2 general na yan bago kayo mapahiya at mas lalong magmukhang guilty sa pagko-coverup.
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