THE Armed Forces yesterday said it respects the decision of the Sandiganbayan convicting former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia for bribery and facilitating money laundering.
Acting AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said the military has long adopted measures to prevent similar cases.
Garcia was sentenced by the anti-graft court to eight to 14 years imprisonment.
“That’s already at the purview or jurisdiction of the court. The court has already rendered its decision so we respect it,” Aguilar said in a press briefing.
Garcia was dishonorably discharged and sentenced to two years imprisonment by a miliary tribunal in 2005 for violation of Article of War 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman) and Article of War 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline).
“On the part of the Armed Forces, we learned lessons and we have instituted measures already to prevent the recurrence of that similar incident. Right now, you would hear no cases of that kind from the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Aguilar.
“I have not heard anything about cases of corruption involving military officers or personnel of that magnitude or probably even small level. So I think the measures that were implemented were effective, so it really changed the system,” he added.
The Sandiganbayan decision came 12 years after Garcia pleaded guilty to bribery and facilitating money laundering as part of a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Special Prosecutor in 2010.
Garcia admitted guilt to the two offenses in exchange for the dropping of the capital offenses of plunder and violation of the Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Garcia also offered to surrender assets amounting to P135.4 million, way below the P303.27 million ill-gotten wealth he supposedly reportedly amassed while in active military service.
Pressed if the military was satisfied with the verdict of the Sandiganbayan, Aguilar said: “I think it’s for the whole Filipino (to answer) the question, whether we are satisfied with the verdict.
“We respect the justice system to be an independent entity. To be honest it is already a long case, a past case and we respect the court in its decision,” Aguilar said.
