MANILA, Philippines - A former commissioner of the Commission on Audit (COA) received payoffs from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), former military budget officer George Rabusa alleged yesterday.
Rabusa also claimed that more than one COA auditor received payoffs from the AFP as part of efforts to cover up massive corruption in the military.
Speaking at the Senate hearing on the plea bargaining agreement of former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, Rabusa alleged that COA resident auditor Divina Cabrera, who was previously assigned at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), was just a lackey of a higher official of the commission.
During previous hearings at the Senate, Rabusa identified Cabrera as the resident auditor assigned at the ISAFP who received a cut from the so-called fund “conversions” in the AFP.
According to Rabusa, Cabrera was initially allocated one percent of the total amount that was converted but she asked for two percent.
Rabusa said Cabrera had a “handler” who he identified as a certain commissioner Raul Flores of the COA.
Rabusa said that Flores was in charge of the intelligence transactions of the AFP and that he occasionally met with him either at the Steak Town restaurant in Quezon City or at Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
During these meetings, some of which were attended by Cabrera, Rabusa claimed that he prepared an envelope containing cash for Flores.
Rabusa said that the amount prepared varied, depending on the need, but that it never went below P200,000 per meeting.
“He calls when there is a problem and then we have to meet,” Rabusa said in Filipino.
Cabrera, who was present during yesterday’s hearing and who denied the allegations of Rabusa, said that Flores has since retired from the COA.
source: philstar.com
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