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Thursday, October 14, 2004
Lawmaker wants Garcia to attend House probe
MANILA -- An inquiry by the House defense committee on graft and corruption in the military will be brought to where the subject of the investigation is, at the University of Sto. Tomas Hospital in Manila where he is confined for a heart ailment.
If Sto. Tomas disallows it, Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez said they will ask the military to order the transfer of former Armed Forces comptroller Carlos Garcia to the V. Luna General Hospital, which caters to military personnel, in Quezon City and hold the inquiry there instead.
Garcia is being investigated for alleged ill-gotten wealth.
Golez said Garcia could bring with him his personal doctor during the hearing or the military and House may provide him doctors.
During the inquiry at the House of Representatives Wednesday, Golez asked the military to produce Garcia but it was unable to do so.
Garcia's doctor said the general could not attend the hearing because of the patient's unstable condition.
Medical officers from the House and military complained before the panel that they were barred by the management of UST hospital from examining Garcia.
They divulged that the hospital employees told them there is an order from Garcia's doctor not to allow anyone to disturb his patient.
Golez said the investigation will include even the leaders of the military.
He also said they will review the report of the Feliciano Commission on the Oakwood mutiny.
Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez said they have placed Garcia on their watchlist upon the request of the US Department of Homeland Security.
Fernandez, however, clarified they have yet to issue a hold-departure order against the military general.
He also announced that Garcia's green card has been cancelled because he has not maintained residency in the US.
Military spokesman Edilberto Adan said they are still searching for generals who will compose the court that will try Garcia.
"We are looking at available information now to select the most qualified and available generals to sit in court. Our generals are scattered all over the country so we have to select those available so that the case will be tried quickly," he said.
But Adan said before the court martial starts, a pre-trial hearing would be conducted on the graft case against Garcia.
Sen. Sergio Osmeña III is against a court martial, saying Garcia should also be tried in a civilian court like the Sandiganbayan and not by a military court since Garcia's case can be considered as a plunder charge.
"Out of delicadeza (propriety), the military would not try him. He should be brought before the civilian court, the Sandiganbayan," Osmena said.
The senator expressed doubt that the trial would have a fair outcome since many of the officials from the military would forbid Garcia to testify.
He said in civilian court, there would be no cover-up or collaboration among the military officials. (JFF/JPM)
(October 14, 2004 issue)
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