Opening a can of worms?

MANILA, Philippines – In the midst of discussion on the alleged illegality of the plea bargaining agreement between former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia and the Office of the Ombudsman, a former budget officer of the military, Lt. Colonel George Rabusa shocked the Senate by revealing that the former Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Angelo Reyes received P50 million as “send-off” money when he retired in 2002.

Apart from the “send-off” money, Reyes also received P5 million monthly discretionary funds from the military comptroller office, Rabusa added.

Rabusa also alleged that the succeeding heads of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Generals Diomedio Villanueva and Roy Cimatu also received P10 million each as “pasalubong” or welcome gift when they assumed the AFP leadership. He said that the source of such funds was the Provision for Command Directed Activities (PCDA).

Over the years, the “pabaon” system has become a tradition in the military, Rabusa added.

Former AFP Chief of Staff, Angelo Reyes was invited during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing following the allegations from Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that Garcia who now faces plunder charges is protecting a powerful person.

During the hearing Reyes denied the allegations and said he was never involved in the preparations of the PCDA funds.

Senator Trillanes admitted he was irked by Reyes’ claim that he never benefited from corruption while in the service. It may be recalled that Trillanes was jailed for more than seven years for participating in the Oakwood Mutiny that exposed corruption in the military. He believed Reyes is corrupt and one of the principals in Garcia’s case.