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Tuesday, October 09, 2004
Ombudsman files charges against general for graft
MANILA -- A criminal complaint has been filed against a military general accused of massive corruption, the Ombudsman said Friday.
Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo ordered Army Major-General Carlos Garcia to explain in writing within 10 days why he should not be charged in court for corruption.
"Based on available records, the Office of the Ombudsman determined ... that the submitted evidence against Major-General Garcia is quite strong," said Marilyn Galvez, spokeswoman for the special prosecutor.
Malacaņang at the same time reiterated its commitment to prove that there are no sacred cows in the administration and the military.
However, a Palace official said they would not lift a finger on the alleged questionable dollar deposits maintained by some officials unless concrete evidence is presented.
Silvestre Afable Jr., Communications director, said the government has yet to receive word from the United States if they are really investigating three cabinet officials and two generals as claimed by retired Commodore Rex Robles, a member of the Feliciano Commission that investigated the Oakwood mutiny.
Robles declined to identify the five officials saying, the information came from his informants in the US.
"The president will not condone unlawful conduct at any level of the government. The Palace will investigate if evidence or reliable information is brought forth. But I am not aware of any official communication from the US government on this matter," Afable said.
"We affirm transparency and due process and if anyone has any facts, he or she is urged to submit these. But we will not jump into rash probes of general allegations because cabinet members enjoy the confidence of the President and should be treated with respect," he added.
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye echoed the statement, adding that if anyone were proven violating the law, they would be penalized accordingly.
Bunye also assured that law violators would be given due process like in the case of Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia who was suspended for failing to declare in his statement of assets and liabilities several properties including those in the United States.
This was discovered after Garcia and his wife Clarita executed an affidavit to explain why their son had $100,000 when he entered the US last December.
The US Customs seized the money.
"The present controversies hounding the AFP should be taken in a positive light, even as we deal with these issues in the spirit of fairness and due process. Let the cold evidence be examined with judiciousness, and the axe fall where it may," said Bunye.
On Monday the armed forces suspended without pay Garcia, previously the military's top finance officer, for six months for allegedly making false declarations on his statements of assets and liabilities as well as "his increase in net worth (which) is disproportionate to his legitimate income."
The military has said that Garcia's suspension was the first for a general "in contemporary times."
The Philippine armed forces has been mired in allegations of graft and corruption that has often been the cause of instability within the institution.
In 2003, a group of junior officers led around 300 men in a short-lived mutiny against President Arroyo, whom they accused of graft, and demanded the firing of top military officials.
Arroyo crushed the rebellion in less than 24 hours however, and the detained officers have recently made a public apology saying that their action last year was misguided.
On Thursday the military said it was also investigating Air Force Major-General Ralph Flores, who was accused of having forged his birth date to delay his retirement by three years. (JMR/AFP)
(October 9, 2004 issue)
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