Rabusa facing plunder raps anew

MANILA, Philippines - Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) budget officer George Rabusa is facing another plunder case before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly amassing unexplained wealth when he was still in active military service.

In a complaint filed last Feb. 13, Maj. Emerlito Angulo, through his lawyer Homobono Adaza, accused the self-styled whistleblower of illegally amassing assets amounting to more than P50 million.

Rabusa’s properties allegedly include units in two condominium projects in Libis, Quezon City and several tracts of land in Tagaytay City.

Angulo said the retired colonel is also the beneficial owner of the Pancake House franchise in Alabang, a Max’s restaurant in SM Bicutan, and also owns a restaurant at the Mall of Asia (MOA).

The complainant alleged that Rabusa purchased and owned, together with his wife Debbie, at least two houses in the United States located at 18751 Tuba Street, Northridge, California and at 13230 Washington Pointe, Orlando, Orange County, Florida.  

Angulo said the respondent also secured his wife and two daughters as immigrants in the United States. They are now staying at 2869 W. Academy Avenue, Anaheim, California, a house which they are allegedly renting, but which may also be owned by them.

“Records will show that it is Rabusa and his cohorts who plundered the AFP treasury. It is Rabusa and his associates who have enriched themselves in office and who are misleading the public and the prosecutors in order to go scot-free,” Adaza said.

“With these continuing efforts to besmirch and dishonor the AFP, as one of those who have defended the best and the brightest in the AFP, I cannot just fold my arms and let these malicious activities go by,” he added.  

“We should not allow him to pin down the innocents, issue false and malicious statements, perjure himself, and misuse Congress, the Department of Justice and other government agencies to extricate himself from criminal acts. He must answer before our people and our courts and suffer the consequences,” Adaza said in the complaint.