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By Jomar
Canlas, Reporter
THE Supreme
Court has given the Sandiganbayan the green light to try the
forfeiture cases of former general Carlos F. Garcia in connection
with the alleged ill-gotten wealth he amassed while he was in the
Armed Forces.
The Court,
sitting en banc, junked Garcia’s motion for reconsideration,
saying he presented no new arguments to merit the reversal of its
earlier ruling.
The 15-man
tribunal also rejected Garcia’s claim that the Sandiganbayan
committed abuse of discretion in refusing to dismiss the cases.
The Court said
the San-diganbayan has jurisdiction over forfeiture cases under
Republic Act 1379.
On January 20,
2005, the Sandiganbayan issued the resolution denying Garcia’s
motion to dismiss. His appeal was also dismissed.
The cases were
filed after US Customs and Border Patrol officials seized $100,000
from Garcia’s sons, Ian Carl and Juan Paulo, as they entered the
San Francisco International Airport on December 19, 2003.
The
general’s wife, Clarita, was also found to have brought into the
US from the Philippines over $500,000 since 1993. She also owns
various properties in the US.
Garcia, then
the Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff for Comptrollership, was
charged with plunder, perjury and violation of the Code of Conduct
and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
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