Philippines names new military chief amid corruption scandals

By REUTERS

MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Sunday appointed an experienced fighter pilot as the country’s new military chief, hoping restore credibility to an institution facing corruption allegations.

Lt. General Eduardo Oban replaces General Ricardo David who will retire on Monday.

Oban takes on his role after lawmakers uncovered large-scale corruption in the armed forces involving some retired generals who were found to have acquired properties in the United States and siphoned off military funds earmarked for soldiers’ training and salaries to their personal bank accounts.

The scandals have affected the morale of soldiers fighting two long-running insurgencies that have killed 160,000 people, displaced 2 million and stunted growth in this poor but resource-rich Southeast Asian nation.

Addressing graduates of the Philippine Military Academy at the northern mountain resort city of Baguio, Aquino also promised to punish corrupt generals and push more resources to soldiers fighting Maoist and Muslim rebels.

“There will be no sacred cows,” Aquino told 196 new ensigns and lieutenants joining the 130,000-member armed forces, saying his government will not tolerate corruption and judiciously use military funds to buy new boots and guns for frontline soldiers.

“We will correct the past mistakes and straighten the crooked policies. We will hold accountable all the thieves and all their accomplices.”

Oban, who graduated from the same academy in 1979, is widely respected among younger officers. He played a key role in ending an army mutiny in 2003 when 300 junior officers took over a high-rise apartment in Manila’s business district.

Oban has promised to reform the military’s personnel, logistics and financial system to stop corruption and focus on upgrading the army and navy’s capabilities.

Comments

ERICK

Report abuse
I salute you Mr.Pres. Noynoy! keep up the good work! destroy the corruption is our government. The good job that you are doing is for a better future to our country...Also, please do not forget to investigate the corrupt government officials and not only the military.

JACK DICK

Report abuse
AQUINO IS ANOTHER PUPPET. FREEZE ALL GENERAL BANK
ACCOUNTS, GET THEIR MONEY TO THE POOR. GET THE MONEY FROM MARCOSES, ESTRADA AND ARROYO, AGAIN
GIVE TO THE POOR.

BEJO OF CALAMBA CITY

Report abuse
Mr. Noynoy, I have a very good solution to offer... all goverment officials who will be found out of corruption practices should be lined up for firing squad. sending them to jail will just add to the expenses of the government and your accumulating the budget from our hard-earned money (through taxes). that will be a swift and cheap justice, isn't it?

JAIME S. PACLARIN

Report abuse
only death penalty can reduce crimes in the philippines.

ARLEEN

Report abuse
i agree to Bejo, but i have another suggestion Mr. President....why,why there is heroes cemetery? can our goverment make another cemetery ? corrupt cemetery i think this is more better and it will help the traffic too. they can visit their love ones in deffirent places..we are hoping Mr. President that this time there will be a good result espicially to those officials who are on the hot sit.. everyone of us are waiting for the result...and this time please put those people when they die tothe above that i suggest....thank you and more power.
Post your comment

required

required (email will never be displayed)

Please enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). This helps us prevent automated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.

All comments are subject to approval

Terms and conditions

Latest comments