A government audit will be conducted on the funds allocated for the military’s health services, President Duterte announced Tuesday.
The President said he has provided R50 million to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center, also known as V. Luna Medical Center, every month but expressed concern such funds have been misused.
The commander-in-chief issued the statement following the dismissal of several top officials of the Armed Forces Philippines-Health Services Command for alleged anomalous transactions.
“What is really very stupid about this whole thing is, I gave V. Luna, the AFP – it’s V. Luna Hospital – R50 million a month also. And the other hospital, another 50. There are two hospitals there. The AFP and I forgot the other one. That’s the V. Luna. And I gave them a new building because it was being used and the drainage was blowing up upwards,” the President said during a business forum in Malacañang Tuesday.
“I gave them the money because (Budget) Secretary (Benjamin) Diokno was there and he said, “okay,” early on. So titingnan ko rin ito before I go, I will create a big bang also. I want it audited kasi ‘yung pera na ibinigay ko was misappropriated,” he added.
Dismayed with the corruption in the bureaucracy, the President has also pledged that that those military officials involved in fund anomalies would face public humiliation.
Duterte earlier ordered the relief and court martial proceedings against Brig. Gen. Edwin Leo Torrelavega, head of the AFP-HSC, Col. Antonio Punzalan, commander of the V. Luna Medical Center, and 18 others for alleged anomalies at the military hospital.
“(AFP chief Carlito) Galvez showed to me the report and he was scratching his head, he said, ‘Mayor, sorry but this is what happened,’” the President said.
“I said, ‘You court martial him. Create a court where he will appear before his peers and give him the most humiliating…,” he said, without finishing his sentence. (Genalyn Kabiling)
