MANILA, March 8, 2011— A Catholic bishop is seeking an increased transparency in the Armed Forces of the Philippines following the appointment of a new AFP head.
Allegations of corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency hounded the AFP recently, prompting Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez to ask newly installed AFP chief of staff Eduardo Oban Jr. to guarantee transparency.
“He should implement transparency and fight corruption in the AFP and restore its image,†Iniguez said over Catholic Church-run Radyo Veritas.
“With transparency, we can stop irregular transactions,†he said.
Oban earlier vowed for “indelible trails†for all AFP transactions by strengthening procurement process.
Among his priorities, he said, is the computerization of the procurement system and the plan to make some amendments in the procurement reform act.
Oban was formally installed as AFP chief on Monday amid the Senate probe on some top military officials accused of amassing unexplained wealth through questionable transactions. [CBCPNews]
