US asked to return $100,000 seized from Garcia sons

MANILA, Philippines - The government is asking the United States to return the $100,000 seized from the sons of former Armed Forces comptroller Carlos Garcia.

Communicating through the Department of Justice, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said the money confiscated from Juan Paulo and Ian Carl upon their arrest in February 2009 forms part of ill-gotten wealth taken from the Philippine government.

Invoking the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, Gutierrez said the money must not be forfeited by the Northern District Court of California.

Juan Paulo, 29, and Ian Carl, 32, have pleaded guilty to bulk cash smuggling charges.

They are scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 29.

The two, along with their mother Clarita Depakakibo and another brother, Timothy Mark, are Garcia’s co-accused in the plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.

Their arrest and prosecution are credited to effective partnership between the Office of the Ombudsman and the US Department of Homeland Security, US Department of Justice, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.       

US attorney Melinda Haag has lauded Philippine authorities for working hand-in-hand with the US in going after cash smugglers.