Watchdog to reform AFP launched

MANILA, Philippines - The military is hoping to recover from the ghosts of the past with the launching of a watchdog that will oversee its reform efforts.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said the creation of the Multi-Sector Governance Council (MSGC) would allow them to reach out to all stakeholders and to improve their systems.

“We want to improve the armed forces. In the past, the perception towards the armed forces is not good and we are committed to build a better armed forces that is true to our mandate,” Bautista said.

“It’s the key to survival of any organization to keep on adapting to the environment,” he added.

The MSGC was launched Thursday and composed of former and current government officials and experts from different fields. It will monitor the implementation of the Armed Forces Transformation Roadmap, a 15-year strategy that seeks to professionalize and develop the capabilities of soldiers.

When asked whether the creation of MSGC could salvage the military’s reputation, Bautista said: “Only our people can judge that but this is our intent, to be a world class armed forces, to be a source of national pride. We want our people to own us, to be proud of us.”

Allegations of corruption and human rights abuses have tainted the image of the military, which is still grappling with issues on its security capabilities.

In 2011, former military budget officer George Rabusa claimed that some generals got huge sums upon retirement. He said the giving of send-off money or “pabaon” to retiring officials was part of a military tradition.

Funds intended for other items were reportedly converted to cash gifts for ranking officials

During the height of the controversy, survey firm Pulse Asia released a survey showing that almost half of Filipinos view the military as an institution where corruption is most prevalent.

Officials have repeatedly claimed that reforms have been undertaken to insulate its financial and procurement systems from corruption.

The military is also facing issues of alleged human rights abuses, which militant groups claim, stemmed from anti-insurgency efforts.

Among the high-profile cases of alleged human rights abuses are the disappearance of activists Jonas Burgos, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno.

Officials, however, maintained that abusive practices like torture, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are not part of the military’s policy.

Bautista said the transformation of the military would be a continuous process.

“We are continuously reviewing our systems whether they are still adept to the current environment, whether there is a need for us to update them or to change them,” he said.

The members of the good governance body are Jesus Estanislao, chairman of Institute for Solidarity in Asia and former finance secretary; Francis Estrada, founder of Odyssey Capital Ventures, former Ambassador Lauro Baja; Jennifer Oreta, Assistant Secretary for Policy of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; Alfredo Pascual, president of the University of the Philippines; Cesar Bautista, co-chair of the National Competitiveness Council; and Fr. Jose Cruz, dean of the Ateneo School of Social Sciences.

Also in the council are former defense secretary Avelino Cruz; Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, founder of the Teach Peace-Build Peace; Solita Monsod, former socioeconomic planning secretary and professor at the University of the Philippines; Western Samar Rep. Mel Sarmiento, Jose Ramon Albert, president of the Philippine Statistical Association; Gina Lopez, managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation; and Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Almendras.