De Lima said Rabusa was placed under provisional DoJ-WPP for 90 days pending results of the evaluation for full coverage of his application.

De Lima did not give further details on the terms and conditions laid out by DoJ-WPP Acting Director lawyer Martin Menez for Rabusa’s acceptance in the program.

The Senate had provided provisionary witness protection to Rabusa but starting Saturday, the DoJ-WPP took charge of providing him with security.

Last February 2, Rabusa sought immunity from suit following his exposé on the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including allegations that retiring chiefs of staff received so-called “pabaon,” “send-off” cash gifts worth millions of pesos.

During his meeting with De Lima on that same day, Rabusa sought for immunity from suit on top of the security and protection to be provided by the government.

“Aside from protection, he asked for immunity. He admitted actually during the Senate proceedings and even during interview after the proceeding that he also benefited. He even cited an amount di ba P20 million ba iyon?” said De Lima.

The former chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said Rabusa admitted publicly that he benefited financially from irregular transactions that allegedly diverted military funds to the pockets of some former chiefs of staff.

De Lima said normally Rabusa should be prosecuted for his self-confessed involvement in the supposed irregularities but he may be spared from suit being a whistleblower, said De Lima.

She clarified, though, that Rabusa’s requests are still being evaluated as he is set to file his formal complaint-affidavit tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a former chief of staff in retired Gen. Efren Abu said yesterday that he was not a beneficiary of the so-called pabaon and that his stint as the top brass was marked by the institution of structural changes that eliminated corruption in the military.

Abu said that during his tenure he worked to rebuild the image of the institution and, at the same time, returned billions of pesos of centrally-managed funds to the three major services of the military – the Philippine Army (PA), the Philippine Navy (PN), and the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

“As the CS (Chief of Staff) who took over the command of the Armed Forces during the height of the scandal in 2004, I embarked on a reform which I believed would rebuild the image of the institution and strengthen its moral foundation.”

Abu assumed as AFP chief in October 2004 at the height of the scandal involving the former AFP comptroller, Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.

Jeamma Sabate, Manila Bulletin