Garcia out on bail

Philippines
December 19, 2010 10:38pm CST
Remember Garcia, the general accused of plunder? Well, his sentence was reduced and is out on Php 60,000 bail. He entered into a compromise agreement with the Ombudsman where he will return Php130M, less than half of what he plundered. The justification by the Ombudsman is that they can control Garcia's assets at once. I cannot believe that despite the evidence against Garcia, a compromise was entered into. And to think that this was done in the late stage of the case! Something is fishy, and the Ombudsman should be made to account for this. I hope that impeachment charges will be filed against her. Do you think that the deal is above-board? What can be done about it? I guess this Christmas we're letting all the high-profile criminals out. Maybe the Ampatuans will be next.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
20 Dec 10
A lot of decisions have been very shocking lately. Some of them, I do understand the point of the decision, but this one - not so much. Something stinks, and stinks really bad. Good Lord, I fear for the people involved in the Ampatuan case if ever they will be let out next. Errrr...since when did a compromise agreement become a means to mitigate criminal liability? God help us all.
• Philippines
25 Dec 10
That's true, they seem to be letting everyone out - from the Morong 43, Webb, Trillanes and now Garcia. Maybe they are reorganizing the prison closet so they throw some out. Yes, something stinks,and it stinks to high heavens. I don't know what will happen if they get to the Ampatuans. I guess in this country, money can buy anything.
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
Maybe they're making space for...? Are they expecting a lot of people to be incarcerated in the near future? Right...sadly, money speaks, and speaks volumes.
• Philippines
23 Dec 10
Well, that's politicians and corrupt system can do to a siociety. The victims and the believers of justice are rendered helpless and the obviously guilty goes free. I wonder what kind of repercussions and consequences in the future will these actions entail. I do commend the effort of the government regarding Garcia's deal even though their hands are also tied and they basically can't do anything about it. At least they tried unlike other agencies of the government that remain corrupt and greedy. I wish Hell would freeze if the Ampatuans were given a slap in the wrist.
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
The news says that the Executive branch will try to intervene in this case. The consent of the offended party is needed in order for a compromise to be approved. Since the military is the offended party, I hope that they will not give their consent to the compromise agreement. However, what is really puzzling is that Garcia was released even before the agreement was approved.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
21 Dec 10
Yeah seems like the judiciary at this point in time is not really functioning as it is supposed to be. I can smell that they are doing this on purpose because the executive is not that friendly with them at this point and you can see that majority of the appointed judges are from the past administration which is very obviously heavily indebted with them. Something is indeed fishy in this situation.
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
Yes, something is really fishy. We really need to get rid of this patronage system that is weighing our justice system down. The antagonism between the executive and the judiciary and the Ombudsman is not doing us any good. I find it odd that the Ombudsman is trying hard to antagonize PNoy. Do they really think that they will win a war with the Executive? Are they so selfish that all they care about is themselves?
@jules67 (2788)
• Philippines
21 Dec 10
P130M plunder case and only P60,000 bail was set on Garcia? That was totally ridiculous. People should not be blamed if most of the government institutions cannot be trusted. Even those you think should defend you are making dubious actions.
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
So true. Actually it was 330M plunder case but they are willing to compromise at 130M. Totally ridiculous, as you say. The Office of the Ombudsman is suppose to prosecute public officials. If you cannot trust the prosecutors to do their job, how can you expect the public officials to behave if they know they can get off lightly?
@greenpeas (998)
• Philippines
21 Dec 10
I think the entire office of the Ombudsman should be abolished. Not only it is inefficient, it proves to be corrupt as well, and of course its so called head, Ms. Merceditas Gutierrez, is a remnant of the previous administration - bestfriend of Mr. Arroyo and protector of the Arroyo family. The latest Garcia fiasco is an outrage. Of course these Ombudsthieves partake a portion of the 130 million pesos that Garcia will pocket.
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
I love your Ombudsthieves comment... Unfortunately, the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body and the Ombudsman can only be removed by impeachment (what a shame). They are so shameless that even a shame campaign will be put to shame ... all these outrage and they are keeping mum?! Now that I think about it, wasn't the Quirino hostage-taking situation also a by-product of their incompetence? The policeman there was complaining of their corruption. I guess since they ignored and even washed their hands on that case, maybe they think they can get away with this too.
@romzz05 (572)
• Philippines
20 Dec 10
Wow, this is crazy. His whole family robbed the government blind for years and the government is willing to be lenient because he is going to return half the money he stole?? This isn't just about the money its about betraying the public trust. Now I know why there are many govt officials stealing money like there is no tomorrow. If we get caught we'll just bargain our way out. and we don't even have to return all the money. Perfect...
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
Correct! And the disgusting part is that the wife did not even consider what they were doing as wrong - she thought that it was just protocol. Imagine, the entire family is flown first, billeted in the finest accommodation, given "shopping money" that need not be accounted for and she thinks that the "giver" does not expect anything? That it is not wrong?! Where's the moral compass of this family, and why do they deserve the compassion of the government? You're right that if I were to steal from the government, then I will steal big, return a little, and expect to be charged with a lighter offense.
• Philippines
20 Dec 10
That's so sad. Criminals should stay behind bars. Setting these criminals free will make other bad people more confident to do some more crimes because our government is not serious with implementing the law.
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
It's not just that they are criminals (because they have not been convicted YET), but the heinousness of the crime that makes me really angry. I agree that sets a bad precedent - steal big, return some to the government and get a light sentence. Chances are he will be eligible for release for time served. What a christmas gift to the people.
• Philippines
20 Dec 10
Have you noticed that our justice system has been degrading themselves just for the sake of what we call "under the table system" Philippines style? I think Mr. Lauro Vizconde is right; he doesn't know where to turn to, where to seek justice for his beloved family because of our rotten system. You're right next on the line are the Ampatuans. Regards with Garcia, well the 130 million which is about to be return, let's just pray that the money will be in good hands.
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
I take it that you believe that money changed hands somewhere in this case? That's hard to prove, but its all so suspicious actually, don't you think? The compromise agreement was kept from the public. If it were not for a nosy reporter, we probably would not have known about it. And the timing makes you think twice knowing how the people in the government behave during Christmas time - you know, like the greeting of merry christmas laced with so much meaning by immigration officials in the airport. As for the 130M, I very much doubt that it will be in good hands, considering where it has been.