CA to hear complaint vs AFP chief Abu

The Commission on Appointments (CA) will hear the complaint of an Army officer’s wife against Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Efren Abu when Congress resumes session next week.

"We will have to hear the complaint of Mrs. Haydie Lagnada in fairness to General Abu and the complainant," Camiguin Rep. Jesus Jurdin Romualdo, chairman of the CA defense committee, said yesterday.

He said Lagnada would be invited to appear before the committee, explain her opposition to Abu’s appointment and answer questions from committee members.

The complainant is the wife of Lt. Col. Hilario Lagnada, whom Abu removed as head of Army logistics and ordered investigated in connection with a business transaction Mrs. Lagnada had with the Army.

The officer was accused of violating a rule prohibiting relatives of members of the Armed Forces from doing business with their organization.

The CA bypassed Abu before Congress adjourned for its three-week Lenten break last month. The Romualdo panel did not endorse him largely because Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. was opposed to his confirmation.

Pichay took up the cudgels for Lt. Col. Lagnada who, he said, is his constituent. He apparently wanted him back as head of Army logistics but Abu refused to return the officer to his post.

In her complaint, Mrs. Lagnada told the CA that in May 2003, she had delivered medical equipment and supplies to the Army on behalf of Felfran/Gazzaz Enterprises, which had a supply contract worth P10.7 million.

She said she procured the equipment and supplies from Landmark Distributors through Jep Lescano, its manager, whom she later found out is a relative of Abu.

Mrs. Lagnada, who acted as a broker in the transaction, said she was authorized by Nelia Ayson of Felfran/Gazzaz Enterprises to collect P2.8 million as her share of the deal.

Six checks covering the amount were issued to her, but Abu had them canceled and reissued to Felfran/Gazzaz and Lescano, she added.

She accused the chief of staff of allegedly favoring his relative to her prejudice.

Abu ordered the checks canceled after an investigation showed that "certain officers" conspired to facilitate the payment to Mrs. Lagnada and that Felfran/Gazzaz and Lescano were the real claimants of the checks.

Despite pressure for him to reinstate Lagnada, Abu has stood his ground on the officer’s relief and investigation, an influential congressman told The STAR yesterday.

"He told me that he did the right thing, and to reinstate the officer would send a wrong message to the soldiery," said the source, who spoke with Abu.

He quoted the Armed Forces chief as saying he would fight it out with his critics.