As revelations of massive corruption are rocking the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) urged rank-and-file government soldiers to expose anomalies and corruption among Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers.
After several cabinet members have been sacked and calls for investigations are zeroing in on Pres. Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte themselves, the CPP said it is time for ordinary soldiers to expose corruption in the AFP.
CPP national information officer Marco Valbuena that corruption in the military has many forms, starting with the military’s “surrender and reintegration drive.”
Valbuena said officers have against pocketed millions of pesos in kickbacks as they claimed it had “neutralized” 1,631 “rebels and sympathizers” from January 1 to November 13.
“How much do AFP generals and officers pocket for every ‘rebel’ they claim to have ‘neutralized’?” Valbuena asked.
AFP’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), where each New People’s Army “surrenderee” is allocated ₱60,000 to ₱80,000 for reintegration, is an opportunity for corruption, he said.
Valbuena said they have received reports that that AFP only give a few kilos of rice and several cans of sardines during AFP photo-ops and reintegration of so-called rebel returnees.
“We can only surmise that a large share of these funds [is] pocketed by AFP officers,” Valbuena said.
Another scheme where AFP officials receive kickbacks is “reward money” earned for killing or capturing supposed high-ranking NPA officers and commanders, Valbuena said.
He said the AFP makes up these numbers with fake reports and “rehashed” surrenders.
“The bigger the number, the bigger kickbacks for AFP leadership,” Valbuena said.
“Who actually verifies those who surrender, are captured, or killed? They merely make the claim,” Valbuena pointed out.
He referenced past CPP criticisms of the AFP’s “surrender” scheme, which involve presenting civilian farmers as rebels without proof, in violation of their civil rights and protection under international humanitarian law.
“It’s all just a scheme for corruption,” he added.
Valbuena further accused the AFP leadership of engaging in numerous other corrupt practices, profiting from infrastructure projects, the AFP modernization program, the National Task Force-ELCAC’s bogus development programs in barangays, the amnesty program, and even from unprogrammed budget appropriations sanctioned by President Marcos Jr.
“As the corrupt bureaucrat-capitalist system becomes exposed, the stench emanating from the military’s officers comes as no surprise,” Valbuena said.
The AFP meanwhile said it will abide by the Constitution as several retired generals have joined protest actions against the Marcos government.
Earlier, AFP chief of staff Romeo Brawner revealed the AFP was asked to withdraw support from the Marcos Jr. government as government’s flood control project controversy worsened. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
