THE P10 billion that the administration released to the Armed Forces three months before the May 2007 elections to partly cover the government’s debt to retired soldiers is “missing,” prompting some former soldiers and even retired generals to conclude that the money may have been used by the administration to bankroll the campaigns of its senatorial candidates.

A retired general said retired soldiers are up in arms over the continued failure of the Armed Forces leadership to account for or even reveal the status of the money after it was released by the Department of the Budget and Management (DBM) in February this year to the military through its finance center.

“The Armed Forces finance center could not explain. The senior commanders could not even tell us [retirees] if where the money is right now,” said a retired general, who requested anonymity.

The retired star-rank officer added that the Association of Generals and Flag Officers has already asked Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff, to account for the money. He said that retired generals are still waiting for an explanation from Esperon.

BusinessMirror tried to ask the military about the grumbling of the retired soldiers, but it merely shrugged off the issue through its spokesman, Lt. Colonel Bartolome Bacarro.

“It’s a good story, but it is not true,” Bacarro just said.

The retired general said that their reports that the P10-billion pension money was used by the administration to bankroll the campaigns of administration senatorial candidates was reinforced by the exit of former Defense (DND) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., a known ally of President Arroyo, from the Department of National Defense more than two weeks ago.

Ebdane’s leaving the DND and his recall by Arroyo to the Department of Public Works and Highways still puzzles both retired and active soldiers as no reasons were given. Ebdane, who is a former National Police chief, was appointed to the defense department on the same month that the DBM released the P10 billion to the Armed Forces.

Esperon figured prominently in the controversial “Hello Garci” tape, which allegedly caught then-Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and the President talking about the elections in Mindanao.

Ebdane, on the other hand, was cited for his alleged role in keeping Garcillano “missing” while he was being sought by the House of Representatives and the Senate that investigated the scandal.

The P10 billion was released by the DBM through Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., partly to make up for the back increases in the pensions of retired soldiers that were never paid.

By 2001, the government already owes retired military pensioners some P6 billion pesos, and it is estimated that the amount has already doubled or even reached P14 billion this year.

Malacañang on Sunday reassured the public that the Human Security Act (HSA), which entered into force that day, will give law enforcers the necessary legal teeth to effectively fight terrorism in the country without sacrificing civil rights as feared by some groups.

THE P10 billion that the administration released to the Armed Forces three months before the May 2007 elections to partly cover the government’s debt to retired soldiers is “missing,” prompting some former soldiers and even retired generals to conclude that the money may have been used by the administration to bankroll the campaigns of its senatorial candidates.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Senator Rodolfo Biazon said he will call for an investigation to determine how “hostile forces” have managed to acquire the same type of armaments as the military.

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—This city known as the “Environment Capital” of the Philippines for its innovative and effective environment conservation, protection and development programs is the country’s newest and 31st Highly Urbanized City (HUC) after a plebiscite conducted by the Commission on Elections on July 9.