Ex-COA auditor in Garcia plunder case gets protection

(Updated 2:08 p.m.) Former state auditor Heidi Mendoza, a member of the team that investigated the plunder case against former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, has been placed under the government's Witness Protection Program. At a news briefing on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she approved the provisional coverage for Mendoza while the Department of Justice (DOJ) evaluates her application. "I approved right away the provisional coverage. Since those who are being implicated here are powerful people, you cannot downplay any security threat. You cannot be too complacent," said De Lima. She said Mendoza, formerly from the Commission on Audit (COA), went to the DOJ office in Manila on Monday to apply for the coverage. De Lima said Mendoza did not ask for financial assistance. "She only asks for security," she said. Mendoza testified at the House of Representatives' justice committee hearing earlier in the day. She blew the whistle on alleged attempts to prevent her from following the money trail left by Garcia, who is facing a P303-million plunder case before the Sandiganbayan. Mendoza had earlier disclosed in a VERA Files article a "request" from a government office for her to tell the public the evidence in the plunder case against the retired major general is weak.
Rabusa De Lima had earlier said her department is open to giving protection to Mendoza and former Lt. Col. George Rabusa, who alleged that former military chiefs of staff, including erstwhile Defense chief Angelo Reyes, received send-off money prior to their retirement. On Tuesday, De Lima said Rabusa has yet to submit his affidavit and application for coverage under the WPP. She said the contents of Rabusa's affidavit will determine whether the DOJ has to conduct an initial fact-finding investigation or a whether the department can already hold a preliminary investigation. In a preliminary investigation, a panel of prosecutors will determine whether there is probable cause to charge suspects with the crime they are accused of committing. Rabusa's allegations Rabusa last week appeared before the Senate blue ribbon committee's hearing on the controversial plea bargaining agreement between Garcia and the Office of the Ombudsman. Garcia is currently out on bail after pleading guilty to two lighter offenses. He was allowed to post bail even if the plea bargain deal has not been approved by the Sandiganbayan. Rabusa served as budget officer during the time of Garcia as J6 (deputy chief of staff for comptrollership, now defunct). Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot was Garcia's predecessor and Rabusa's former boss. Garcia was military comptroller from March 2001 to September 2003. His stint overlapped with that of Angelo Reyes, who served as Defense secretary from 2001 to the middle of 2003. During the senate hearing last week, Rabusa accused Reyes of receiving around P100 million while he served as AFP chief of staff, and not less than P50 million more as "pabaon" (send-off money) when he retired in 2001. Reyes had denied the allegations and said he would file a libel suit against Rabusa. DOJ, Senate, House inquiries On Tuesday, De Lima said it does not matter that her department, the Senate, and the House of Representatives are conducting separate inquiries into the alleged corruption in the military. "I think it's okay that there are simultaneous inquiries... because we have different thrusts. But at the end of the day, there will be sharing of facts and ultimately, [the controversy] will land at the DOJ because we are in charge of the prosecution," she said. She likewise said Rabusa seemed to be a "credible" witness because "he is right there in the system. He knows what he is talking about regardless of the agenda of the Senate committee." She likewise said that once Rabusa is covered under the WPP, the government will ensure that he is protected from physical, psychological threats and even legal threats and harassment. She did not state whether she was referring to the complaints lodged against him by Reyes. "It's clear under the WPP Law, these witnesses are supposed to be immune from harassment," De Lima said. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV