DEFENCE MINISTER STEPS ASIDE AMID INVESTIGATIONS

BY LETHISA KOLOKOL

THE Minister for Defence, Dr Billy Joseph announced to the media yesterday, that he will step aside as the minster, as investigations into the PNGDF recruitment process continues.

Minister Joseph clarified that he has been implicated in some of the allegations, accusing him of having a hand at play with the recruitments.

The minister denied the allegations are not true, and with a clear conscience, he has decided to step aside to allow and let the investigations to continue.

Chief of PNG Defence Force, Rear Admiral Philip Polewara who was also present at the announcement admitted that defence has a lot of legacy issues and this investigation will help to sort these issues.

Rear Admiral Polewara also stated that a review of the PNGDF’s system has commenced and the Directorate of Recruiting at Murray Barracks is disbanded and the 1/26 recruitment training is cancelled.

Polewara said, these actions are necessary to ensure that the PNGDF effectively review the recruitment process.

At present, the PNG Deference’s investigations into the recruitment process is still ongoing.