Drilon wants Garcia cited for contempt

Senator Franklin Drilon on Thursday asked the Senate to cite accused plunderer former military comptroller Carlos Garcia for contempt for always invoking his right against self-incrimination during the inquiry on the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). "I move that Gen. Garcia be cited in contempt," Drilon said during the Senate hearing. He made the recommendation after Garcia repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination every time he was asked regarding the alleged corrupt practices in the military. "We will decide this in a caucus," Drilon said. Senate President Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada likewise said that he will detain Garcia if he does not agree to help "stamp out" corruption by cooperating with the Senate panel. "If you cannot answer me directly, I will move that you be detained in one of the rooms here in the Senate," he said during the inquiry. Garcia, for his part, said that he was of the "same thinking" as Estrada in wanting to purge corruption in the military. "That's fine with me," he said. As of posting time, the Senate inquiry was ongoing. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV