Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 13) — The government is still looking into properties transferred to the children of former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, who was convicted of bribery and facilitating money laundering, an Ombudsman official said on Tuesday.
“We still have some properties transferred to the children of (former) General Carlos Garcia,” Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval told reporters. “We’re still gathering evidence so we can also take care of them legally and give to the national treasury.”
Sandoval gave this update in a media briefing after the Office of the Ombudsman turned over to the Bureau of Treasury a ₱53.6-million cheque and 11 titles of real properties in various parts of the country as part of Garcia’s plea bargain to reduce his punishment.
In 2010, the Ombudsman approved a plea bargain with Garcia, as the prosecution failed to find a military contractor or supplier who could prove that he committed plunder by receiving gifts, kickbacks and commissions. Plunder carries a penalty of up to 40 years in prison.
In entering the deal, Garcia pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of direct bribery and of facilitating money laundering. As part of the agreement, he offered to cede ₱135.43 million worth of cash and properties owned by him and his family to the government.
To date, a total of ₱135-million worth of Garcia’s assets have been remitted to the national treasury.
Garcia’s wife Clarita and his three sons Ian Carl, Juan Paulo, and Timothy Mark — who are co-accused in both the plunder and money laundering cases — were not part of the plea bargain, Deputy Ombudsman Jose Balmeo, Jr. noted in the briefing. They remain at-large and have not been arraigned.
In a resolution issued last week, the Sandiganbayan said the charges against the wife and children remain, as it rejected Garcia’s plea to recall the arrest order for his family members.
Garcia was among the former generals who were accused of accepting “pabaon” or farewell gifts before retiring. He allegedly amassed ill-gotten wealth worth ₱300 million while he was comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He has been detained in the New Bilibid Prison since 2011.
