Retired generalsto BBM: Probe plunderers, stop corruption

Plundering lawmakers must be shaking in their boots. They’re targeted in an anti-corruption petition circulating in chat groups of Philippine Military Academy graduates.

The petition addresses President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. It asks him to investigate “the 20 senators and 100 congressmen listed in the affidavit of Janet Lim Napoles in connection with the pork barrel scam.”

The Sandiganbayan in 2021 convicted Napoles for P10 billion in plundered Priority Development Assistance Fund. For more than a decade she devised fake projects and beneficiaries so lawmakers can pocket pork barrels.

Napoles also fronted for lawmakers to steal P728 million in supposed fertilizer subsidies and P900 million in Malampaya gas field royalties.

The petition also seeks Marcos’ elimination of corruption that eats up 20 percent of annual national budgets. Among several steps: withhold release of pork barrels, unprogrammed funds, unnecessary travel expenses; reduce confidential-intelligence funds; remove overpaid and useless government positions; practice austerity.

Twenty-three retired generals and colonels have signed the petition so far. Active duty officers are proscribed from political actions.

The petition was first posted Dec. 30 in the biggest Viber group of PMA grads, with 1,174 participants. It spread to other online chat groups of active duty and retired grads.

Signatories and their PMA batches are: Col. Salvador B. Calanoy IV, ’84; Lt. Gen. Isidro S. Lapeña, ’73; Lt. Col. Alexander Quirante, ’72; Capt. Ephraim Rio, ’73; Brig. Gen. Roberto Santiago, ’68; Commo. Justo Manlongat, ’69; Col. Hector Tarrazona, ’68;

Rear Adm. Rufino Lopez, ’74; Brig. Gen. Carlito Gamit, ’74; Maj. Gen. Alphonsus Crucero, ‘74; Brig. Gen. Errol T. Pan, ‘74; Col. Ricky dela Paz, ’74; Lt. Col. Oscar Mallabo, ‘74; Brig. Gen. Roland Rodriguez, ‘74; Capt. Winston G. Arpon, ’64; Col. Alfonso O. Rivera, ’66;

Brig. Gen. Aaron Fidel, ’79; Maj. Gen. Ramsey L. Ocampo, ‘70; Capt. Rafael Enriquez, ’57; Commo. Vicente Buenaventura, ’57; Maj. Gen. Gil Meneses,  ’80; Brig. Gen. Oscar Cabaron, ’68; Col. Ernesto P. Benitez Jr., ’82.

“With all due respect,” they “suggest” to Marcos Jr. that (excerpted):

“(1) The 2024