MikeLigalig.com

By Bohol Chronicle

The morale of military troops stationed here in the province remains high despite the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the armed forces which apparently led to the suicide of a former chief-of-staff and ranking government official.

This was bared by Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, former spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who admitted there is indeed corruption but only to a certain extent in the military.

Brawner, who is now commanding the 2nd Special Forces Battalion based in the province, was quick to add that irregularities within the military organization were perpetuated by a closely-knit group within the now defunct Comptroller's Office.

According to Brawner, who had the chance to hear sentiments of fellow officers manning various military camps throughout the province, while their rank and file are closely monitoring the much-publicized investigations in the Senate and House of Representatives, troop morale remains high.

He added that officers and men of the armed forces here want to maintain their commitment to serve the nation despite the issues of graft and corruption hounding the military.
         
"We support the ongoing investigation to seek the truth regarding the allegations which we believe would ultimately cleanse and strengthen our organization. Our men in the field deserve to know [the truth], said Brawner while assuring of his men's professionalism and that they remain focused to their mission in Bohol.

Meanwhile, the Philippine flag was flown at half mast in all military camps in Bohol since Wednesday to give due respect to the death of the late General Angelo Reyes, a former chief of the AFP and who was also married to a Boholana.

Military camp officials here said honors are due to the late general despite the current scandal that has rocked the armed forces.

Interviewed over "Inyong Alagad" of Station dyRD, Brawner explained that the supposed corruption happened years back and the AFP already instituted reforms, specifically in the former Comptroller's Office and the J-4 (Logistics and Supply office of the AFP).

According to Brawner, following the disclosures of anomalies during the time of Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the AFP abolished the powerful Comptroller's office where checks and balances have been set up to safeguard military resources and funds.

Gen. Garcia, who used to head the Office of the Comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines was charged with plunder at the office of the Ombudsman for allegations of dipping his fingers into the army funds, amounting to more than P50-Million, the cut-off limit to qualify for the case of plunder.

"In lieu of the abolished office which has lumped all fiscal functions under its tasks," the outspoken and glib army officer said the "Resource Management, Fiscal Management, Accounting and Internal Audit Offices are formed".

"We and our men in the fields have felt the benefits of the reform," Lt. Col. Brawner, who pointed out "new uniforms and equipment as well as logistics now come on schedule to the men in the fields."

"We condole and sympathize with the friends and family members of General Angelo Reyes and we are saddened by his death," Brawner aired.

General Reyes, retired AFP Chief and Barwner's boss shot himself to death early morning Tuesday, February 8 at the grave of his mother Purificacion at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.

Earlier, while being investigated on allegations of corruption as former AFP Chief, Reyes said he would never do anything to tarnish the good name of his mother, who was a retired public school teacher.

We hope this is the last of this kind of incident in the country for the nation and for our soldiers, the special forces commanding officer said.

Despite all these, the junior officer assigned at Riverside Bilar camp said the army supports the investigation for the reason of ferreting out the truth.

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