Rep. Roilo Golez
Chairman of the Committee on National Defense |
It was a perfectly
laid trap and controversial Major Gen. Carlos
Garcia fell for it.
Kabalikat ng Masang Pilipino Rep. Roilo Golez
of Parañaque City finally got Garcia
into admitting that he had written officials
in the United States claiming ownership of the
$100,000 seized by US Customs authorities from
two of his sons in December and asking that
the money be returned to him.
Golez, chairman of the Committee on National
Defense investigating Garcia and the alleged
corruption in the Armed Forces, led Garcia into
admitting his having written the Fines, Penalties
and Forfeiture Office of the US Customs in San
Francisco, California, by asking a series of
questions pertaining to his personal circumstances
and family. |
Golez first asked
about Garcia's wife and sons, and in all these questions,
Garcia gave definite answers. He told the panel that
his wife, Clarita, is an American citizen, a registered
nurse in California, and that she now manages the
family farm in Dumangas, Iloilo.
Garcia said he has three sons Juan Paolo, Ian Carl
and Timothy Mark who are all studying. He said the
youngest, Timothy Mark, studies in the US at Parson's
School in New York and lives in an apartment in the
area.
When Golez asked him who pays for his son's schooling,
Garcia said his brother-in-law, Quillon Depakakibo,
paid for the first semester. He said his brother-in-law
works in Guam.
Garcia may not have noticed
it, but the stipulations made by Golez were
lifted from the contents of Garcia's letter
to US authorities dated January 12, 2004.
And he suceeded in tricking Garcia into admitting
the existence of the said letter, which he
refused to verify during the panel's hearing
on Monday.
In that said meeting, Garcia kept his mouth
shut about his alleged unexplained wealth
and invoked his constitutional right against
self-incrimination at least 30 times.
|
Major Gen. Carlos
Garcia |
Golez then asked Garcia: But that Garcia's statement
that his brother-in-law paid for his sons schooling
does not seem to conform with your letter.
To this Garcia remarked: Your honor, that is not the
intent of the letter. Golez then asked: Do you mean
I have misread your letter? Garcia replied: The support
of my brother-in-law is not total, it's only a contribution
to my son's schooling.
Golez told Garcia that he did not mention in his letter
that the money was intended as additional support
for his son's schooling. Garcia replied that he would
have that information checked. Golez then asked if
he was virtually confirming the contents of his letter,
Garcia tried to wiggle out by saying: I'm sorry you
honor, I cannot testify against myself.
Golez said Garcia can no longer feign ignorance about
the letter since he previously categorically answered
questions directly related to the said document.
In an interview later, Golez said the letter is significant
as it establishes clearly that Garcia owns the $100,000
seized by the US Customs and that he explained in
that letter how he got the money and where he intends
to spend it.
I am writing your good office in reference to my sons
Juan Paolo and Ian Carl's request for petition for
relief from the seizure of funds, Garcia said in his
letter.
Sir/Madam, the amount of money seized from my sons
were sourced from the savings of my personal income,
honorariums and allowances and dividends from capital
contributions earned and saved through the years.
I judiciously spend for our family expenses and sustenance
and in order to saved [sic] for education of my children.
Request for your kind understanding and favorable
disposition on the case of my sons. With highest esteem,
Garcia said.
He also told the
US Customs that besides being a major general in the
Armed Forces, he was the J6 (Armed Forces Comptroller)
and the concurrent director of the Armed Forces Retirement
and Separation Benefits System (RSBS); trustee of
the Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association
Inc.; chairman of the board, Monterosa Development
Corp., an AFP-RSBS subsidiary; director, R&R Travel
Tours, an Armed Forces General Insurance Corp. subsidiary;
and chairman of the board, Camp Aguinaldo Golf Council.
Garcia said that he requested his sons to bring the
$100,000 intended for the payment of the initial down
payment of the condominium apartment my son Timothy
Mark will reside; tuition and registration fees for
the school year 2004 of my son Timothy Mark at Parson's
School, New York, and family expenses for the holiday
seasons, which we intend to spend in New York.
He said that he failed to advise his sons regarding
the declaration of the money to the US Customs.
Tuesday's public hearing zeroed in on the alleged
rampant practice of conversion in the Armed Forces,
but like Garcia, the top military officials lips were
sealed.
Congressmen grilled Maj. Gen. Antonio Anciano, the
Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics or J4, but the
latter insisted that he has no knowledge about conversion
and that he cannot confirm if such practice had been
occurring.
I don't know of any conversion that happened, Anciano
told the committee.
Golez insisted that in the previous hearing, the Vice
Chief of Staff, Vice Adm. Ariston delos Reyes, testified
that conversion happens at the General Headquarters
and in all major services Army, Navy and Air Force.
He again asked Anciano if conversion occurs, and asked
him to give examples. Anciano said that conversion
can happen [in] certain circumstances, and that he
can only venture into giving hypothetical example.
His statements drew sarcastic remarks from Golez and
other committee members, who found it hard to believe
that Anciano could only imagine things and cannot
cite examples based on reality.
Golez then called on retired Brig. Gen. Guillermo
Picache, who had written a book about corruption in
the country, including that in the military.
Picache, who founded the private think tank Asian
Institute of Strategic Studies, cited a classic case
of conversion in the military, wherein funds intended
for the purchase of gasoline are converted into cash,
which are then diverted to other expenses that had
no bearing with the militarys official duties and
responsibilities.
Picache said another case is on the procurement of
supplies and materials. A unit is allocated funds
to buy, say, three dental chairs. The papers are prepared
and in the presence of the resident auditor, the first
chair is delivered and presented for inspection. When
the auditor makes his verification and leaves, the
chair is brought out of camp, and it's the same chair
that goes around [for inspection and verification
by resident auditors in other units]. The same chair
is presented as the second and third chairs acquired,
Picache said.
In reality, only one chair is delivered but the money
paid is for three dental chairs. Picache said that
30 percent to 50 percent of the whole amount is converted
into commission. He said there were instances when
there is 100 percent host delivery.
Conversion is like thievery first you steal the eggs,
then the chickens, then pigs and cows. It escalates,
Picache said. |
