Army General and ranking Army official preventively suspended for "AFP items-for-sale" scam

Press Release
By Office of the Ombudsman
March 5, 2008

QUEZON CITY, Philippines  –  The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday placed under a six-month preventive suspension a Commanding General of the Philippine Army (PA) and another ranking Army official for their alleged involvement in the “AFP items-for sale” scam.

In a five-page Order, the OMB placed under a six-month preventive suspension without pay Major Gen. Jose T. Barbieto, Commanding Gen. of the PA 4th Infantry Division stationed in Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City and S/Sgt. Roseller A. Echepare.

The two officials were earlier charged with Violation of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) before the Office of the Ombudsman by several personnel of the 4th Infantry Division.

The complainants alleged that “applicants are being extorted money in the amount ranging from P25,000 to P30,000 in order to guarantee their enlistment in the Army without having to pass the standard procedures adopted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

They stated that the money collected from the said candidate soldiers are being given to Barbieto thru his “bagman”, Echepare.

They also claim that when the candidate soldiers are unable to produce the amount, the payment is made through salary deduction, to be given to Echepare or deposited to the Landbank account of Barbieto’s brother, Marlo.

The complainants also revealed that anomalies attend the processing of applications for reinstatement and the AFP’s “Balik Baril” Program.

In his complaint-affidavit, one of the complainants stated that he discovered the anomaly on January 31, 2008, when a group of young male strangers approached him, seeking his help to get enlisted as candidate soldiers.

He said the young men stated that “they can only pay the amount of P10,000 each because they came from poor families and cannot afford the P25,000 that CG, 4ID is allegedly asking, according to a certain SSgt Echepare”.

On the other hand, in his complaint-affidavit, another complainant narrated that his brother-in-law sought his help to be enlisted as he was disqualified due to hearing problem. He said he was advised to approach Echepare to be able to help his brother-in-law. He claimed Echepare told him, “MAKAPASOK ANG BAYAW MO KAHIT MAY DEPEKTO BASTA MAY SOP NA P25,000.”

He added that they were only able to produce P20,000 which they gave to Echepare on the first week of January 2008. He said Echepare accepted the money but stated that “IDEDUCT NA LANG SA KANILANG SWELDO ANG P5,000.”

Another complainant stated that he passed the AFP qualifying exams but another person took the exam for him. He said after his training in April, 2007, he was expecting to receive P27,000. However, the amount of P25,000 was deducted from it allegedly because his mother requested for it. “Sa pag uli nako sa amo unya gepangutana na akong mama ang iyang tubag wala kuno siya magpadeduct sa ako”. (When I went home, I asked my mother but she said she did not ask for the deduction)

Assistant Ombudsman Mark E. Jalandoni, of the OMB’s Fact-finding and Investigation Office (OMB-FIO) cited Sec. 9 of the Rules of Procedure which gives the OMB power to preventively suspend public officials.