Sa isang briefing, sinabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque na kabilang sa tinanggal sa katungkulan at dadaan sa court martial proceedings ay sina BGen Edwin Leo Torrelavega, Commander ng Health Service Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFPHSC), Col Antonio Punzalan, Commander ng V. Luna Medical Center, at ng chief ng Management and Fiscal Office (MFO) at Logistics Office (OHC) ng AFPHSC.
“It was brought to the President’s attention that alleged corruption activities have been taking place at the V. Luna Medical Center. The President has since read the reports of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez,” sabi ni Roque.
Idinagdag ni Roque na base sa mga ulat, sangkot ang maraming matataas na opisyal at mga empleyado ng V. Luna Medical Center, AFPHSC sa maanomalyang pagbili ng mga equipment at sangkot sa iba’t ibang katiwalian kagaya ng “ghost-purchasing, splitting of contracts to circumvent mandatory bidding processes, and conceiving fictitious suppliers”.
“That’s what angers the President. This is not an isolated transaction. It involves quite a number of anomalous transactions. Apparently it’s a conspiracy,” sabi ni Roque.
Kinondena rin ni Roque ang “institutional corruption” sa ahensiya.
“He was personally aggravated when the information on corruption in V. Luna was confirmed… He is ballistic. Because only recently, he has ordered the sum of P50 million a month be released to V. Luna… only to find out that much of the funds may be going to pockets of corrupt officials of the Armed Forces,” ayon pa kay Roque.
Nauna nang nangako si Duterte ng
P50 milyong buwanang ayuda para sa ospital ng militar para matiyak na matutugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga miyembro AFP.