AFP chief vows to break 'cartel', fix system in a month

ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday, August 13, vowed to break the cartel operating at the V. Luna Medical Center and fix the hospital’s procurement system in a month.

Galvez said he has ordered a major revamp and reform in the military’s health service command and at the V. Luna Hospital, more formally known as the AFP Medical Center, following the relief of at least two high-ranking officers over corruption allegations.

“There is a cartel that having transactions in V. Luna and our end stage is to really break it,” he said in a press conference Monday afternoon, a few hours after Malacañang announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has fired AFP Health Service Command commander Brigadier General Edwin Leo Torrelavega and V. Luna Medical Center commander Colonel Antonio Punzalan.

Galvez said he has promised the President that he will fix the system at the hospital within a month.

“’Yung mga departments and offices na very most likely involved yun talaga tatanggalin namin so this includes ‘yung staff and mga department heads,” he said.

(The staff and heads of the departments and offices involved in procurement will be removed.)

Aside from Torrelavega and Punzalan, Galvez said 20 others who are part of the procurement, delivery logistics and financial departments will be relieved and will undergo further investigation.

He also said they will coordinate with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Solicitor General in building a strong case against those involved.