PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu has ordered the relief of at least 10 PCG training staff for their alleged involvement in the irregular training of PCG recruits.
PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo yesterday said Abu relieved the PCG personnel about three weeks ago after learning of the irregularity. The 10 are now being investigated.
Balilo initially told a radio interview that there were around 30 personnel from a regional training center of the PCG who were relieved by Abu.
Balilo later clarified that only eight to 10 personnel were relieved from a regional training center in Bataan and other areas. The rest of the 30, he said, were reassigned.
“When Admiral Abu learned about three weeks ago, he relieved the personnel of the training centers and they are now (the) subject of an investigation,” said Balilo.
Citing information received by the PCG, Balilo said the involved personnel supposedly asked the recruits to buy additional uniforms and other items that are needed in the training.
“Apart from the uniforms, there were other activities that were required, forcing the recruits to make (financial) contributions,” said Balilo.
With the additional items and activities required, Balilo said the cost of the training increased to around P150,000 per recruit, way above the P43,000 government allotment for each recruit.
Balilo said the trainees were forced to pay the additional cost initially paid by the erring personnel. Worse, some of the recruits were told to borrow money from lending institutions so they could settle their debts.
He said the recruits were forced to buy the overpriced uniforms from contacts of the erring personnel, adding the vehicles used in the activities of the recruits were reportedly rented from the training staff or their contacts.
Balilo said the PCG officials have already spoken to some of the victims.
He said the PCG need not shell out money for their training, noting government allocation should cover the entire training cost.
“They were forced to purchase items like uniforms when these are not required. It appeared that they (erring personnel) have turned this into a business,” he said.
Balilo said the PCG leadership was angered after hearing the complaints about the irregularity in the training.
