MANILA, Philippines - Defense of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has announced the formation of a special body that will oversee several investigative units of the Armed Forces tasked to look into corruption in the military.
Gazmin rejected the recommendation made by an DND Special Investigating Committee that recently looked into the corruption in the AFP.
The committee wanted civilians to head the investigative units as part of reforms in the Armed Forces.
Gazmin said he had a discussion with the department's Special Investigation Committee (SIC) under DND legal affairs chief Patrick Velez.
He said SIC members agreed to create the oversight body under the DND so as not to disrupt the AFP's organizational structure.
The oversight body. which will be under a DND official, will supervise the affairs of the offices of the AFP Judge Advocate General, AFP Internal Auditor, AFP Provost Marshal. and the AFP Office of Ethnical Standards and Public Accountability.
"We had a long discussion with the investigating committee and military leaders. We are unison in saying that we should not disrupt the organization of the Armed Forces but we what we can do is come up with an oversight committee under the DND to oversee these offices," Gazmin said.
He did not say exactly when the oversight committee would be established but said it will be up soon. He said the head of the committee will be "answerable to the DND."
"These (4) offices are under the (AFP) chief of staff. If you are under the chief of staff, how can you conduct a lifestyle check on your boss? If you are answerable to us (DND), to a body that is higher that the chief of staff, then you can do your function," Gazmin said.
Apparently referring to the recommendation of the SIC to appoint civilians as head of the 4 offices of the AFP, the defense secretary said the move may unduly disrupt the 120,000-strong military establishment.
"The initial (recommendation) is for us to separate these offices (from the AFP) and then transfer to the Department of National Defense. That would disrupt the organization of the Armed Forces. Instead, we are establishing an oversight body headed by official from DND to oversee the functions of these offices," Gazmin said.
The SIC looked into the corruption in the military after former AFP budget officer Lt. Gen. Rabusa exposed the alleged widespread corruption in the Armed Forces.
The body made a number of recommendations related to the handing of military funds, including the civilianization of the 4 AFP offices. The body did not give primary importance to the criminal and administrative liability of people involved.
President Benigno Aquino III has ordered Gazmin to reconvene the SIC to look into the administrative and criminal liabilities of the people who are involved in the corruption in coordination with the Department of Justice.
Gazmin said the SIC would be passing reports to the DOJ so that charges can be pursued against the erring personalities involved in the corruption.
"If we are able to identify who need to be prosecuted, (since) this is not our competency, we will pass this on to the DOJ," he said.
