Stiff sanctions will be meted out to military personnel found tainted with corruption, newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez warned Tuesday.
“Anyone who will be tainted with corruption will be relieved of his/her position,” Galvez said, ordering all commands of the AFP to stay clean and corruption-free.
“The President has zero tolerance for corruption. We will have no fear of relieving people who are mediocre and full of anomalies. We will keep the AFP clean. I will not hesitate to relieve any commander who will be tainted with corruption,” he said.
The AFP chief has directed the Office of the Inspector General to investigate reported anomalies in the use of resources to ensure the judicious use of funds and proper management of government assets.
Galvez, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985, replaced AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero last April 18.
At the same time, Galvez said he sees no problem with giving awards and recognition, including cash incentives, to deserving military personnel.
Galvez vowed to provide plaques of recognition and cash incentives starting from P10,000 for top performing officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees who will be selected on a quarterly basis.
Galvez also tasked the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (J-1) to craft the process and conduct appropriate deliberations.
He also vowed to promote officers and enlisted personnel who will excel and deliver significant results required of their respective positions.
Guerrero was appointed as the 50th AFP chief last Oct. 26, replacing then AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año, who stepped down after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Galvez was supposed to retire last Dec. 17 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 but his term as AFP chief was extended by another four months by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Meanwhile, Galvez vowed to expedite the processing of contracts relating to the AFP Modernization Program.
However, he assured the public that such matters will be done deliberately and prudently.
“The President is pushing us to make our modernization move forward. We need to choose people who can deliver results for our modernization,” he said.
The AFP Modernization Program is divided into three horizons, with the first lasting from 2013 to 2017, the second from 2018 to 2022 and third 2023 to 2028.
The Second Horizon calls for the acquisition of equipment more attuned to external defense missions.
The new AFP chief also promised to work hands-on and without delay.
He announced that he will not impose any “cut-off time” in sending documents to him that needs to be acted upon, even past office hours.
“I am results-oriented. We must be outputs-oriented as we value teamwork and meritocracy. Be righteous. Be perfect, because any mistake may mean the lives of the people we have sworn to serve and protect; and the lives of our very own soldiers,” the newly-appointed AFP chief added.
“We need the cooperation of everyone—officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees—in translating the intent of the AFP into tangible realities,” he pointed out.