RETIRED Major General Carlos Garcia has been released from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) after fully serving his sentence for conviction over direct bribery, money laundering and perjury, the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) said Friday, August 11, 2023.
Bucor director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said they implemented Garcia’s release, which was approved by Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Garcia served a total of 17 years, five months and eight days in prison.
Bucor said Garcia has already fully served his sentence following the computation of 3,288 good conduct time allowance credits under Republic Act No. 10592, which reduces a convict's sentence due to good behavior over time.
For charges of direct bribery, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Garcia to four up to eight years in prison; four to six years for facilitating money laundering; eight months to one year, up to two years and four months for perjury; and maximum of two years for violation of 96th and 97th articles of war by the General Court Martial of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He was also ordered to pay a total fine of P407.8 million for direct bribery and for facilitating money laundering.
Garcia was detained for amassing P303.2 million worth of ill-gotten wealth during his term as the AFP comptroller.
He was also involved in the “pabaon” scandal where retiring military officials were being given hefty retirement bonuses during the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He was arrested in 2005 after the filing of a plunder case against him and was transferred to the NBP in 2011.
Garcia pleaded guilty to the lesser offenses of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering following a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Ombudsman. (SunStar Philippines)