US turns over $1.3M seized from military comptroller Carlos Garcia

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales receives the $1.38-million check which forms part of the proceeds from the seized assets of former military comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia in New York. Garcia pleaded guilty to direct bribery and facilitating money laundering and promised to return P135 million to the government. MARC CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net

The US government turned over on Wednesday to the Office of the Ombudsman a check worth $1.384 million (P61.8 million) as the second installment of proceeds from forfeited assets of former military comptroller retired-Major General Carlos Garcia.

Garcia earlier pleaded guilty to direct bribery and facilitating money laundering charges and promised to return P135 million of the P303 million he illegally amassed.

In January 2012, the US government handed over to the Philippines $100,000 and P430,000 seized from Garcia’s sons Juan Carlo and Ian Carl in December 2003 while trying to enter the US.

The latest turnover by US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg represent the net proceeds from the sale of Garcia’s Trump Tower condominium unit in Manhattan, New York, and funds from two bank accounts in New York.

These funds were traced by the US Department of Homeland Security as part of Garcia’s laundered properties.

In her remarks, Morales said the forfeited assets show that money launderers and plunders could not escape prosecution.

“There can be no safe haven for money launderers and plunderers… This milestone in asset recovery sends the message across that raiders of public coffers can no longer hide their unexplained wealth; they cannot hide their dummy bank accounts, wherever located; and they cannot hide from the long arm of the law,” Morales said.

For his part, Goldberg said the US government had always been willing to assist the Philippines in its fight against corruption.

Garcia and his wife and three children were charged by the Office of Ombudsman for plunder over their P303-million illegal wealth. The charges were dismissed after Garcia entered into a plea bargain deal with the Ombudsman and approved by the Sandiganbayan, which lowered the charges to direct bribery and facilitating money laundering.

As part of the deal, Garcia entered a guilty plea to the lesser offenses and promised to return some of the loot.

Investigation showed Garcia, whose monthly income was at P36,015, failed to declare P143 million in assets in his statement of assets and liabilities net worth. Garcia’s wife Clarita also admitted that her husband received money from military contractors.

The case began with the arrest of Garcia’s sons at the San Francisco International Airport in December 2003 for carrying large amounts of money.

The general was convicted by a military court of violating the Articles of War 96 and 97 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline) and sentenced to two years at the National Bilibid Prisons.