Manila probes misuse of military aircraft

Manila probes misuse of military aircraft

MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Fidel Ramos yesterday
ordered the defense department to look into alleged misuse of
military transportation amid charges that politicians were
getting free rides for campaign purposes.

His order came as senators quarreled in public over
allegations that some of them abused their privileges by riding
military aircraft to visit provinces for thinly-disguised
political sorties well ahead of the 1995 elections.

Ramos told a regular news conference without directly
referring to the senate controversy that he had instructed the
defense department to "have this matter carefully investigated."

"The use of military transportation on air, land and sea, must
be cleared by the secretary of national defense or the office of
the president if used by civilian officials," he said.