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Friday, October 08, 2004
Military probes another general for wrongdoing
MANILA -- Major General Carlos Garcia is still in the country, particularly in Metro Manila, and he will not leave the country without answering the charges against him, a military official said Thursday.
Vice Admiral Ariston delos Reyes, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vice chief of staff, said this following queries on Garcia's whereabouts, adding that they are investigating another general has been found to have forged his birth date to avoid retiring at the mandatory age of 56.
A probe found that Major General Ralph Flores, former head of the air force logistics command, declared he was born on March 30, 1949 instead of his true birthday, March 30, 1946, so he would not have to step down in 2002, military spokesman Major General Edilberto Adan said.
The investigating committee is recommending that the over-aged general be court-martialed and stripped of his rank, Adan said.
At a hearing by the Senate committee on national defense and security on the case of Garcia, who is accused of accumulating US$1.4 million in unexplained wealth, delos Reyes said they are cooperating with the Ombudsman on the investigation.
Delos Reyes said Garcia told the military leadership he would come out after preparing his counter-affidavit.
"General Garcia is in the country because I am in constant contact with him. He assured me that he is in the country. He assured me that he is not leaving. He informed us that he is preparing his reply or counter affidavit for the investigation being conducted by the Ombudsman," delos Reyes added.
Garcia is now under preventive suspension.
Since he is part of the military, delos Reyes said they will take custody of him if and when needed.
Garcia was directed by the Ombudsman to submit his counter-affidavit in 10 days to the charges against him.
In the case of Flores, although he had been misdeclaring his birthday in other documents for the past 20 years, his information sheet from the time he was a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy revealed his real year of birth.
The retirement of officers is a major issue in the Philippine military where many junior officers complain they cannot get promoted because there are too many higher officers above them.
The Philippines has been cracking down on corruption in the armed forces with a general being suspended for alleged graft on Monday in the first such case involving a high-ranking army official in recent years. (JPM/With AFP)
(October 8, 2004 issue)
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