Gringo: Spare Garcia from trial by publicity

Senator Gregorio Honasan urged the public not to make his former classmate, ex-General Carlos Garcia, a victim of "trial by publicity" because of his plea bargain agreement with the government for his plunder case. In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Honasan said only those in authority, like the courts and the counsels of the parties involved, should comment on the issue. "I think we should refrain from making prejudgments of the case (and) from commenting based on limited information. There is so much that we do not know," Honasan said. "I suggest that we allow the process to take place," he added. Yet, Honasan was quick to stress that he was not defending Garcia, a former military comptroller. "I'm just saying, hinay-hinay tayo (we should take it easy)." Honasan and Garcia both belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1971. Another prominent member of the batch is fugitive Senator Panfilo Lacson, who faces arrest for his alleged involvement in the Dacer-Corbito case. Garcia's plea bargain agreement with the Ombudsman had garnered criticisms from various personalities, including President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Aquino said he was disappointed with the development because he believed that the evidence against Garcia seemed to be strong. Earlier in the day, the Sandiganbayan postponed the scheduled announcement of its decision on the plunder case against Garcia. Garcia, by far the the highest-ranked military official undergoing trial by the anti-graft court for the crime of plunder, or graft and corruption on a massive scale, obtained temporary freedom last weekend after posting a P60,000 bail. Garcia was charged with plunder, a non-bailable offense, and violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) Section 4-A for allegedly amassing P300 million in bribe money. However, he entered a "not guilty plea" to these charges and instead pleaded guilty to charges of the lesser offense of direct bribery, a bailable offense under Section 4-B of the AMLA. On Monday, De Lima said the plea bargain agreement was illegal because it was made long after trial had begun. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ/VVP, GMANews.TV