MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman filed yesterday charges of money laundering at the Sandiganbayan against detained former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia in connection with his family’s more than P300 million worth of alleged ill-gotten wealth.
Anti-graft prosecutors also filed charges against Garcia’s wife Clarita, and children Ian Carl, Juan Paulo and Timothy Mark.
The Ombudsman accused the Garcias of conspiring to “willfully, feloniously and maliciously” transact large amounts of money in their peso and dollar accounts with eight banks and two lending institutions.
Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez has approved the filing of the charges.
In the 10-page charge sheet for the money laundering case, the Ombudsman also claimed the Garcia family deposited P303,272,005.99 in their accounts and eventually withdrew from the funds some P73 million and US$976,215.99.
The deposits were allegedly made between July 2002 and October 2004.
The Ombudsman said these were violations of the Anti-Plunder Law or Republic Act 7080.
Garcia is detained at the Philippine National Police detention cell at Camp Crame, Quezon City in connection with the plunder case that was earlier filed by the Ombudsman against him and his family in 2005.
The retired general’s wife and children are now in the United States facing extradition proceedings.
Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Marissa Bernal recommended a bail of P120,000 for each of the accused in the money laundering case.