SUPREME COURT SHOULD LOOK INTO GARCIA PLEA BARGAIN!

I sure hope the Supreme Court would look deep into the approval of the Sandiganbayan of the plea bargain agreement between plunder suspect and former Armed Forces comptroller Carlos Garcia and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Whether or not they can reverse the approval, I fervently pray that the Supreme Court, at the very least, will subject the Sandiganbayan justices who approved the deal to the most intense questioning possible for their action.

Somebody had also start finding ways for both a LIFESTYLE, and FINANCIAL probe, on the justices, especially in the last few motnhs.

A probe that would include domestic or foreign trips by them or their family members, as well as acquisition of properties whether it’s in their names or not.

This plea bargain is a REWARD FOR UNEXPLAINED WEALTH and must be BLOCKED AT ALL COSTS.

Otherwise, plunder had better be legalized.

First and foremost, the plea bargain deal with Garcia was forged on Feb. 25 last year, a day after then Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio retired.

But until the first week of January also last year, there was still a Sandiganbayan resolution denying Garcia’s petition for bail because the evidence of his guilt for plunder was strong.

So what the hell happened between Jan. 6 and Feb. 25, when then new Special Prosecutor Wendell Sulit and then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez concluded that the evidence versus Garcia was weak?

The plea bargain implied that the Sandiganbayan had made a mistake in first denying Garcia’s petition for bail and in ruling that the evidence against him was strong.

What EARTH-SHAKING ERROR was it that the Sandiganbayn had to suddenly correct itself and grant Garcia temporary liberty, IN JUST LESS THAN TWO MONTHS?

That’s a RECORD-SETTING review of evidence, believe me guys.

If the denial of bail had indeed been a mistake, then the justices who had ruled so should be sanctioned and asked to explain. Anybody correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve never heard of such a move.

Which leads me to my next question: Why allow an error as serious as that to pass unsanctioned?

Second point: The plea bargain deal requires Garcia to return only P135 million of the P303 million he had amassed. Meaning, Garcia gets to KEEP A BIGGER PORTION of the loot and still get away with A LIGHTER OFFENSE.

Somebody tell me, please, if there is a LEGAL and, more importantly, MORAL JUSTIFICATION for this. The plea bargain has JUST REWARDED Garcia P168 million for ENRICHING HIMSELF in office, with our HARD-EARNED TAXES.

And don’t forget, boys and girls, it was established that Garcia HAD NO BIG BUSINESS or any other JUSTIFIABLE proof of huge income that could have served as a source of his P303 million.

Even though he was Armed Forces comptroller, he was only earning less than P50,000 a month. The properties and monies he had amassed were found and proven t be his.

AND HE GETS AWAY WITH IT. As one of our readers puts it, only in the Philippines.

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Seven of our friends on “Garcia plea bargain a ‘go signal’ for thieves”:

CHIE NICODEMUS MEER of Manila

Ganiyan ang gobyerno pag my tinatakpan na anomaly. Gagawa ng bagong isyu.

KHALILA CHARLYN DE JESUS of Montreal, Quebec, Canada

He's a liar and so is his family for answering they don't know. I don't know? How could they have a house in the United States with Garcia's salary? What a shame!

JASON JODERIAL of Doha, Qatar

Puwede pala yun! Magnakaw ka ng magnakaw sa kaban ng bayan, tapos pag nahuli ka isauli mo lang yung kalahati o kung magkano natira, absuelto ka na. Galing ng diskarte ng batas sa Pilipinas.

JAKE CLEMENCIO of Bern, Switzerland

Kawawa naman ang Sambayanang Pinas…always on the losing end.

MARIA CRISOSTOMO IBARRA

Sinabi mo pa, Boyet. Hayan, may reward pa mga magnanakaw na iyan. ililigtas nila kapwa nila magnanakaw. Ganiyan nila lapastanganin ang pera ni Juan dela Cruz.

JACKIE PATAWARAN of Caloocan City

Tama!

DANNY CASCOLAN

Government people and agencies, corrupt businessmen and the Armed Forces shouldn’t be untouchables. Morals should take precedence over authority and override technicalities and formalities of man-made laws when those laws do not anymore protect the interest of the citizenry. Abolish the people at the Sandiganbayan!

FERLYN MATAN on “A test to prove Pnoy is really against graft”:

Ang presidente natin, hindi mo malaman kung saan ba tlalaa panig. Sabi, ang masa ang kaniyang boss,, pero kabaliktaran naman ang pinakikita niya.

Five of our friends on “The best thing to do for Pacquiao”

BENJAMIN SAMONTE of Chicago, Illinois, USA

I agree, Boyet. Sana Pacquiao remains an independent politician until he is fully qualified, or have learned and experienced the " A to Z" of managing a nation without self-serving interests.

RACI NIWA of Naga, Cebu

Tama yan, Sir Boyet. Iit's time for Manny to stand for his own. Hindi sana siya magpagamit sa mga politikong walang ibang iniisip kundi pabanguhin ang sarili nilang pangalan. Wala naman siyang mapala doon.

LYAM DELEIQUINA of Tondo, Manila

Right!

LOVELY ETHEL GASCON PEREZ of Hong Kong

You’re right!

REBECCA KOOMANS of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Hindi niya kailangan ng padrino upang dumaan ang tulong nya kung kanino. Buksan niya lang lagi ang pinto niya para sa mahihirap o magtayo siya ng sariling welfare organization. Sikat na siya sa buong mundo. Mas mamahalin sya ng mga iibang bansa at hindi lang ng kapuwa nya Pinoy.

Two of our friends on “Pacquiao as Pnoy’s endorser”:

DELIA SANIDAD of Santiago, IlocorSur

Thank you for your eye-opening blogs,

PATRICIA LAUREL

Lantaran na! 30