DOJ, DFA to discuss extradition of Garcia sons from US

MANILA, Philippines — The departments of Justice (DOJ) and Foreign Affairs (DFA) departments are now checking the records of two sons of former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller Carlos Garcia to see if the Philippine government can initiate moves for their extradition. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde admitted that Manila cannot seek the extradition of Juan Pablo and Ian Carl Garcia if the two were not charged in the Philippines. “It’s only if there are charges filed against them that there is a possibility of extradition. If they are not facing charges di pa napapanahon ang usapin (it will not be timely to discuss this)," Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio. When asked if Manila will initiate extradition moves, he said, “depende ‘yan kung may mga kaso na hinaharap sa Pilipinas (it depends on whether they face charges in the Philippines)." But Remonde said the Palace will leave it to the DOJ and DFA to discuss the matter more thoroughly. “We will discuss the matter with DOJ and DFA. This is more a matter between the DOJ and DFA," he said. Last Wednesday, US authorities arrested two sons the former AFP comptroller following an indictment by a federal grand jury in San Francisco. The US Department of Justice said the indictment charged Juan Paulo Depakakibo Garcia and Ian Carl Depakakibo Garcia with one count of conspiracy to commit bulk cash smuggling and one count of bulk cash smuggling. Juan Paulo was also charged with one count of failing to file a report on the import of monetary instruments and one count of making a false statement to a government agency. He was arrested in Pontiac while Ian Carl was arrested in Las Vegas. Both will be held in San Francisco to answer the charges, the statement said. The indictment was issued last December, the statement added. The case stemmed from the failure of the Garcia brothers to declare some $100,000 they were carrying when they arrived in the US from Manila in 2004. Both brothers as well as their parents were facing plunder charges in the Philippines for allegedly amassing P303.27 million of ill-gotten wealth. Earlier, the elder Garcia was found guilty of perjury by the Sandiganbayan for misdeclaration of his statement of assets and liabilities in 2000. In December 2005, then Maj. Gen. Garcia was convicted by a general court martial for having undeclared wealth. The court martial also dismissed him from the military and sentenced him to two years of hard labor. He retired before criminal charges could be filed against him in court. - GMANews.TV