Garcia: I did it for my family

Former military comptroller Carlos Garcia on Tuesday admitted that as early as 2008, there were already negotiations for him to enter a plea bargaining agreement with the Office of the Ombusdman.

Facing the House committee on justice, Garcia said he did not initially intend to give in to the negotiations knowing that the plunder charges filed against him in 2004 was weak.

However, when his wife, Clarita, and sons Ian Carl, Juan Paulo, and Timothy Mark, were jailed in the United States separately in 2009, Garcia said he “initiated the reopening the possibility of such negotiations”.

Garcia’s wife and children were co-accused in the plunder and money-laundering charges against the former military official.

“All my families were in different jails in the United States. My wife was detained in Michigan, my son in New York, my two other sons in San Francisco. It is for this reason na umayon ako sa plea bargaining agreement with the advice of my lawyer,” he added.

“Sabi ko, kelan ba matatapos ito? Dahil saking pamilya pipirma ako ng gusto
(nila), yan po ang katotohanan,” Garcia stressed.

Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus had earlier said that Garcia’s perception of the plea bargaining agreement as stated in his motion to the Sandiganbayan is inaccurate.

Garcia said he only agreed to the deal after the prosecution said they will drop the charges against his family.

By Kathrina Alvarez