The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as commander-in-chief, to order the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stand down and cease its persecution of Lt./Sg. Nancy Gadian. The Navy lieutenant recently exposed corruption in the RP-US Balikatan exercises involving the former head of the Western Mindanao Command of the AFP. “Mrs. Arroyo, as commander-in-chief, has the authority to stop the AFP’s persecution of Gadian. She can already put a stop to the threats and intimidation being hurled against the whistleblower. There is great public interest in what she has to say regarding corruption in the AFP. There is a legitimate grievance that is not being addressed at all,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“Arroyo’ inaction over this latest controversy shows a possible intent to cover up the issue of corruption, especially in a very sensitive institution such as the AFP,” he added.
Bayan said that while Malacanang has ordered a probe of the Balikatan fund mess, the arrest order against Gadian does not create a favorable situation for her to come out and testify on what she knows.
“How can there be a credible investigation coming from the AFP when the principal witness is being hunted down like she’s the principal suspect. That doesn’t make any sense. Whatever the result of that investigation will not have much credibility,” Reyes said.
“The Commander-in-Chief can immediately order the withdrawal of the arrest order against Gadian and for the AFP to stop its sham probe of Gadian. The Commander-in-Chief should make it clear to all units of the AFP that Gadian should not in any way be harmed or harassed,” he added.
Bayan pointed out that the Arroyo administration does not want the Gadian expose to further cause unrest within the AFP. In the past years, allegations of corruption and even electoral fraud have caused dissention among some officers.
“We have seen what the Arroyo regime has done to previous whistleblowers like Sgt. Vidal Doble, Gen. Francisco Gudani, and Col. Alexander Balutan. They were dealt with severely. That is why the family of Lt. Gadian is right to be concerned about her safety. We won’t be surprised if she will eventually be labeled as a ‘destabilizer’, a term used for all AFP officials who have criticized the status quo,” Reyes said.
Bayan said that various cause-oriented groups are throwing their support behind Gadian in her quest to clear her name and expose the continuing corruption in the AFP. ###
