Sandigan: Ex-AFP comptroller must pay P400 M fine

Anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has upheld its earlier resolution ordering retired military comptroller Carlos Garcia to pay a total of P407.8 million in fine as part of his conviction for direct bribery and facilitating money laundering when he was in the military service.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

In an eight-page resolution promulgated on Sept. 19, the court's Second Division denied the motion for reconsideration (MR) of Garcia seeking the reversal of its July 30 resolution ordering the issuance of writs of execution against him.

The writs of execution would legally compel Garcia to pay fines amounting to P406.3 million for his conviction for direct bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code and P1.5 million for his conviction for facilitating money laundering under Section 4 (b) of Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

The Second Division said the arguments raised by Garcia in his MR were "mere rehash" of his previous arguments contesting the July 30 resolution.

The Second Division maintained that the issuance of writs of execution was in order "to satisfy the judgement rendered in theses cases." It was in July 2022 when the Second Division convicted Garcia of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering, after he voluntarily pleaded "guilty" to the cases in accordance with his plea bargain agreement (PBA) with the Office of the Ombudsman.