Congress to summon ex-AFP chief and assistant on UN peacekeeping funds probe

Thursday, 23 June 2011 02:39

A former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and his erstwhile executive assistant will be invited by a House probe body to shed light on the "irregular and questionable" utilization of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping funds.

Retired Gen. Roy Cimatu and his former executive assistant, Brig. Gen. Benito De Leon, will be summoned to attend the next hearing of the House Committee on National Defense chaired by Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa). The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigated the two officers on the corruption issue in the AFP. The names of Cimatu and De Leon cropped up during the recent hearing of the House body on House Bill 4617 prescribing rates of pay and allowances for AFP officers and enlisted personnel while on overseas duty with a Philippine expeditionary or peacekeeping contingent.

Lawmakers said Cimatu and De Leon will appear as resource persons since they are in the best position to suggest what measures should be adopted to stop the illegal disbursement of the UN peacekeeping funds.

Biazon, himself a former AFP chief of staff, said the UN funds for the Philippine peacekeeping contingent were being used as discretionary funds at the office of the AFP-COS during the Arroyo administration.

During the hearing, National Defense Undersecretary Lorenzo Batino confirmed Biazon's observation saying the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation (UNPKO) funds were used for miscellaneous expenses in Camp O' Donnel in Tarlac in 2005.

Commission on Audit (COA) Director Adelina Ancajas said the AFP did not furnish COA any document pertaining to the UNPKO funds, which should be subjected to the agency's auditing.

HB 4617 should be more explicit in providing that receipts and disbursements of the UNPKO be subject to COA audit, Ancajas said.

Biazon and members of the committee led by Reps. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), Gabriel Quisumbing (6th District, Cebu) and Neri Colmenares (Partylist, Bayan Muna) questioned why UNPKO funds were deposited to the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB).

Biazon said the UNPKO funds should be deposited to the National Treasury instead of UCPB, adding that Executive Order 338 of 1996 mandates the AFP to turn over the United Nations peacekeeping funds to the National Treasury.

Tinio also requested that the committee be provided a list of the actual expenditures for UNPKO missions involving AFP and PNP from 1999 up to present.

Biazon asked the DND, AFP, COA and DBM to submit their position papers before the resumption of session of Congress next month.

Biazon, principal author of House Bill 4617, said the measure will give proper treatment and utilization of funds for the contingents, especially those emanating from the United Nations. Biazon said under UNPKO fund, each Filipino soldier will receive $1,399.

According to Biazon, the country is sending peacekeeping and expeditionary contingents overseas in compliance with its international commitments as a member of the United Nations.

"Historically, the Philippines sent peacekeeping and expeditionary forces to several countries like the Congo, Korea, Vietnam, Haiti and East Timor in order to enforce UN sanctions and policies," Biazon said. At present, the Philippines has contingents in countries like Africa and the Middle East.

"Aside from the fact that the country is able to perform its obligation under the UN Charter, it provides the AFP the opportunity to develop an expertise on international peacekeeping and expeditionary duties," Biazon said.

However, Biazon said except for Republic Act 573 dated September 7, 1950, which provides for the rates pay of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea, no specific legislation determines the rates of pay and financial support the members of the contingents should receive.

"This is further exacerbated by the absence of guidelines on the proper utilization of UN funds, which enabled the AFP to unilaterally determine how much the contingent members should receive," Biazon said.

"This situation results in the improper utilization of the said funds and, thereby, could embarrass the country in the international community, not to mention the adverse effects on the morale and welfare of the officers and enlisted personnel serving overseas," Biazon added.