By U.S. News Agency / Asian

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Monday reiterated the government’s call for members of the military, particularly former chief of staff and now special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu, to cooperate with ongoing investigations into the allegations of corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

According to Ochoa, the President will not prohibit “any member of the Cabinet or the bureaucracy” from participating in separate inquiries and investigations being conducted by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Reiterating President Benigno Aquino III’s commitment to stamp out corruption in government, Ochoa said the Chief Executive had even directed the Department of National Defense (DND) to conduct a formal investigation into the military corruption claims that were disclosed at the congressional hearings.

The Palace has also ordered that the government extend protection to individuals who come forward to provide information with regard to allegations of corruption in the military.

“Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is currently focused on addressing the allegations of those who have testified in Congress, and they have already formed their own panel to conduct a formal investigation,” the Executive Secretary said.

On January 28, Gazmin issued Department Order (DO) 22, creating a four-man panel to “investigate and inquire on the irregularities and corrupt practices of Maj. General Carlos F. Garcia and others.”

The probe team, headed by the chief of the Office for Legal Services of the DND, Patrick M. Velez, has been given 30 days to investigate claims linking former military top brass to graft and corruption.

The panel intends to invite Angelo Reyes, Roy Cimatu and Diomedio Villanueva, former military chiefs of staff who have been accused of receiving multi-million pesos in “sendoff” gifts taken from the AFP coffers.

Whistle-blowers Lt. Col. Rabusa, former state auditor Heidi Mendoza, and Lt. Col. Antonio Lim will also be invited to the probe.

The DND panel is tasked to recommend possible administrative and criminal charges, as well as disciplinary actions, against erring officers.

Ochoa said the cooperation of members of the Armed Forces was necessary to investigate and verify charges of corruption against ranking officers of the military and that they were duty-bound to report corruption in their ranks.

“We recognize that there is a military hierarchy, but our call for our soldiers to speak out on corruption is consistent with the chain of command.

The President is the Commander in Chief; if a soldier knows his superiors are engaged in graft, it is his duty to report wrongdoing to the authorities, not to keep silent,” Ochoa explained.

The Executive Secretary added that the Administration would maintain its zero-tolerance policy with regard to corruption, particularly that in the military.

He likewise stressed that the military continued to enjoy the respect and confidence of the President, who is aware that the alleged anomalies in the AFP were individual acts.

“The important thing is that our military as a whole should not be condemned for the alleged acts of certain individuals, for it is our soldiers who pay the price when military funds are misused.

“We continue to believe that the majority of our troops are truly honorable men and women who will not hesitate to put their lives on the line in the defense of their country.”