Palace to back witnesses vs ex-AFP comptroller

The government is set to throw its full support behind witnesses who will testify in the P300-million plunder case against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia. On this note, Malacañang joined lawmakers and former Constabulary head Ramon Montaño in calling on junior officers to come out and testify against graft in the military. “Hindi natin tatanggihan kung merong lalapit. Sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Aquino, hanggang nagsasabi ng totoo, susuportahan natin," deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. (We will not reject anyone who will come forward. Under President Benigno Aquino III’s administration, anyone who comes out and speaks the truth will have our full support.) She noted that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) already made a public appeal to anyone with knowledge about the case to come out and cooperate. Valte also commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) leadership under chief of staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr. for showing resolve to put closure to the mess. David even wrote the OSG to ask what the military can do, especially after it was not informed about Garcia’s plea bargain. “Kaya ang kasundaluhan kung meron tayong officer na may nalalaman we highly encourage them to go to the Solicitor General (If there are officers who know something about the case, we encourage them to go to the Solicitor General)," she said. — TJD, GMANews.TV