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| Gen. Garcia's family to face arrest 9 March 2006—The Sandiganbayan Second Division yesterday ordered the arrest of Gen. Carlos F. Garcia’s wife Clarita, and three sons Ian Carl, Juan Paolo and Timothy Mark. This is in connection with the plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against them in April 2005. They are found to have violated the Plunder law by amassing ill-gotten wealth totaling an estimated P 303,272,005.99. While comptroller of the Armed Forces from March 2001 to April 2004, Gen. Garcia received commissions, kickbacks and benefits related to his authority over contracts. This 303 million consists of real property in the Philippines and the US, luxury vehicles, peso and dollar bank deposits and other investments. On December 2, 2005 the military court found him guilty of violating 2 Articles of War for understating assets and liabilities in 2002 and 2003, and for holding a US-issued ‘green card’ while serving as an officer of the Philippine army. He was sentenced to two years of hard labor. This however is an untested concept since Gen. Garcia’s case is the first for a high-ranking military general. He is currently detained at Camp Crame. The charge sheet describes Garcia’s wife and sons as “conduits and willing receptacles” for the said activity. Plunder as provided for in RA 7080 is a capital offense and is non-bailable.< Back to Graft Busters main page
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