President Rodrigo Duterte approved on Tuesday night the dismissal of a military official who had been court-
martialed for the malversation of P15 million in allowances of cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
In the middle of his speech before businessmen at the launching of the 鈥淧ilipinas Angat Lahat鈥� program in Malaca帽ang, the President signed the dismissal order of Maj. Hector Mara帽a, a PMA comptroller who had been previously relieved of his post,.
The President also approved the recommendation of the military court to sentence Mara帽a to a prison term of six to 12 years.
The officer was also charged with fraud, conduct unbecoming of an officer, and conduct prejudicial to good order.
鈥淭his just came in. You won鈥檛 believe it. It鈥檚 the military,鈥� he said, as he was handed a folder containing the dismissal order.
The President said Mara帽a was tried for the malversation.
鈥淭his is good,鈥� he said. 鈥淐an I have a pen? I will have it signed in your presence.鈥�
After signing the order, he told a military aide: 鈥淪end the guy to hell, that鈥檚 an order.鈥�
The President dismissed Mara帽a just a day after Malaca帽ang announced that two other top military officials will be court-martialed for a P 1.4 million corruption controversy at the V. Luna Medical Center.
The President mentioned that the amount was misappropriated by Brig. Gen. Edwin Leo Torrelavega.
鈥淚 want it audited because the money I gave was misappropriated by Torrelavega,鈥� he said.
He said he would want the military officials court-martialed.
鈥淐reate a court where he will appear and speak, and give him the most humiliating fire,鈥� the President added. /atm