MANILA, Philippines — State prosecutors who handled the plea bargaining agreement that reduced former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia’s liability in the plunder case filed against him are liable under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Sen. Franklin Drilon said Monday. Drilon, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said these prosecutors must be charged for entering into an agreement that was deemed disadvantageous to the government.
“They should be hailed to court immediately and sacked for this grossly negligent agreement and for causing undue injury to the government,” Drilon said.
Drilon said Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez should inhibit from the investigation of the graft charges against the prosecutors since she was the one who approved the deal.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Department of Justice would rather subject the revelations of former budget officer Col. George Rabusa on alleged corruption in the military to a preliminary investigation than to a fact-finding probe.
De Lima said this as Rabusa has yet to file his formal affidavit detailing how funds of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) allegedly went to the pockets of former chiefs of staff.
She said the filing of the formal affidavit may have been delayed because Rabusa’s lawyers are carefully preparing a strong case against the potential respondents.
"They are making sure that it is extensive, complete and supported by facts and evidence," De Lima told reporters.
Hannah Toerregoza & jeamma Sabate, Manila Bulletin
