Dismissal of graft rap vs Army chief hailed

The Army hailed yesterday the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss a complaint filed against its chief, Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos, in connection with an alleged overpriced deal for the repair of Scorpion tanks.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Jose Mabanta said the Ombudsman’s swift action on the graft case was a welcome development that would "put to rest questions on the integrity of the military leadership."

"The Philippine Army is very happy over the dismissal of allegation hurled against our chief at a very short time," Mabanta said.

Ombudsman prosecutor Luis Aquino dismissed charges filed against De los Santos, saying there was no evidence to link the Army chief to a deal involving the P201-million supply support agreement signed by the military with Bairam Enterprises in 1998.

"Not a single document showed any culpable act attributable directly or indirectly to De los Santos," Aquino said in a three-page evaluation dated Dec. 4.

The Ombudsman explained that the contract with Bairam Enterprises was approved even before De los Santos assumed the top Army post February this year.

"In the absence of any allegations as to the specific acts he committed, it is plain injustice to subject him to a preliminary investigation because it will be violative of his constitutional right to be informed of the nature and cause of accusations against him," Aquino said.

However, the Ombudsman said there is still a need to further look into the case and identify "other persons involved and the specific acts they committed in furtherance of the perpetration of the offense charged," he said. – Paolo Romero