EDITORIAL - Less than relentless

While no one was looking, former military comptroller Carlos Garcia cut a deal in connection with his plunder case, pleading guilty to a lesser offense to get a shorter prison term and keep a substantial chunk of what prosecutors say is his ill-gotten wealth. The Sandiganbayan has approved the deal.

This is what happens when the campaign to pin down the corrupt is less than relentless. Those accused of wrongdoing in this country rarely admit guilt or throw themselves off a cliff in shame, as in certain other countries. Instead they fight tooth and nail to get off the hook, and keep professing innocence in hopes that repetition would turn a lie into truth.

With this lesson in mind, those handling corruption cases in the Armed Forces of the Philippines should make sure their effort does not slacken as media interest in the story ebbs. They must not drop the ball in connection with the latest revelations of former military budget officer George Rabusa. The whistle-blower, who himself could face charges for his admitted involvement in AFP corruption, last week added two more security officials and three state auditors to the list of respondents in the plunder complaint he filed with the Department of Justice.

The original complaint named 17 AFP officers and two civilians in the misuse of AFP funds. One of those tagged last week, retired military officer Ernesto Boac, has gone on indefinite leave as assistant secretary of defense after being accused of pocketing P330 million when he served as budget officer of the AFP’s deputy chief for comptrollership.

All of the accused will have their day in court. Some of them may have been unduly maligned by Rabusa. It is up to prosecutors to unearth the truth, vindicate the innocent, and make sure the guilty will not get away or, like Garcia, get off lightly.