Ombudsman suspends Army general for graft

MANILA, Philippines – An Army commander in Mindanao was placed under preventive suspension for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto, Army 4th Infantry Division commander based in Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City, was charged before the Office of the Ombudsman with violation of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Army S/Sgt. Roseller Echepare, who was charged with the same offenses, was also placed under a six-month suspension.

The complainants accused the two military officers of extorting between P25,000 to P30,000 from recruits to guarantee their enlistment into the Army without having to pass the standard procedures.

They alleged that the money was either paid directly to Echepare, who in turn gave it to Barbieto, or through salary deduction or deposits to the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) account of Barbieto’s brother, Marlo.

The same system is employed in the processing of applications for reinstatement into the military and the AFP’s “Balik Baril” Program, they added.

In a complaint-affidavit, one of them said he discovered the anomaly on Jan. 31, 2008 when a group of men approached him for help in enlisting in the Army.

Another complainant said his brother-in-law sought his help to be enlisted because he was disqualified due to a hearing problem.

He was advised to approach Echepare, who allegedly told him that his brother-in-law can be enlisted even if he has a defect as long as he could give P25,000.

Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni said the Ombudsman has the power to preventively suspend public officials.

The Ombudsman ordered Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to immediately suspend Barbieto and Echepare. – Sandy Araneta, Jaime Laude