BY VICTOR REYES

OUTGOING Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has approved the trial by general court martial of Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto and a sergeant accused of extorting cash from Army applicants.

Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the AFP public information office, said yesterday Esperon’s order was based on the recommendation of the AFP Judge Advocate General which reviewed findings of Army investigators.

The trial, however, will be conducted at the Army level because military tribunals at the General Headquarters level are "trying a lot of cases," including those against military adventurists, Bacarro said.

He cited the cases against the group of former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda in connection with the alleged power grab attempt in February 2006, and the junior officers involved in the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.

Told the Army cannot try cases of officers with the rank of colonel and higher, Bacarro said: "Yes, but there was a consideration. Our GCMs (at GHQ) are busy with other popular cases they are trying right now."

He added the trial at the Army level "won’t make any difference because the objective is to try General Barbieto...There is no violation of rules."

The Army last month recommended to Esperon the convening of a court martial against Barbieto and Echipare after establishing evidence for violation of Articles of War 55 (making unlawful enlistment) and AW 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline).

Barbieto was slapped with the additional offense of violation of AW 96 or conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.

Barbieto was former commander of Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City. He and Echipare are restricted to quarters.

Barbieto and Echipare reportedly asked P25,000 to P30,000 from individuals in exchange for their enlistment as soldiers in the 4th Infantry Division.

The two were also accused of mismanaging funds intended for government militias

Esperon and Barbieto are members of Class 1974 of the Philippine Military Academy.

Esperon is due to relinquish his post to Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano on Monday.