Govt may adopt ex-auditor’s revelations vs Garcia deal

Saying her revelations are “compelling," the government may adopt parts of former state auditor Heidi Mendoza’s testimonies on irregularities in the Armed Forces of the Philippines to boost its opposition to the plea bargain agreement with former AFP comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang said that even at this stage Mendoza’s revelations are “compelling enough" to merit a review. “We will review her testimonies to see if we can use some of them to bolster our arguments before the Sandiganbayan [anti-graft court] against the plea bargaining agreement," Carandang said on government-run dzRB radio, but did not elaborate. Mendoza had testified before the Senate and House of Representatives on finding irregularities in the use of AFP funds. The administration is contesting the plea bargain deal that allowed Garcia to walk free despite facing a P300-million plunder case, which is non-bailable. During his arraignment Garcia pleaded not guilty to the charges of plunder and violation of Sec. 4-A of AMLA, but owned up, instead, to a lesser offense of direct bribery, punishable only by six to 12 years imprisonment under the Revised Penal Code. Likewise, Carandang contested a reported claim by retired Commodore Rex Robles that the congressional hearings on Garcia’s plea bargain agreement was being turned into a “witch-hunt" of former AFP top brass. Robles had branded as an “unnecessary diversion" from the plea bargain deal issue the focus given on individuals such as former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and other retired AFP chiefs of staff. But Carandang argued that had witnesses such as Mendoza and retired Col. George Rabusa and Lt. Col. Antonio Lim not testified, the public would not have realized how questionable the plea bargain agreement of Garcia was. “I don’t think you can call it a witch-hunt. There’s a lot of useful information coming out of these hearings," he said. “This is a good thing. The public will see why this administration opposes the plea bargain deal with Gen. Garcia," he added. Mendoza has say on 'govt post’ Carandang also said Mendoza should have the final say on a possible government post for her. Malacañang stressed this Saturday amid several suggestions to appoint her as an anti-corruption czar, even as it said it will respect Mendoza’s decision. “It’s too early to say. She wants to be with her family, she retired from the (Commission on Audit), I don’t know what her plans are, we don’t have any definite plans (to offer her a post). It’s not as if we have plans to appoint her to a post right now," he said. Earlier this week, President Benigno Aquino III said he is inclined to give Mendoza a government post, in the wake of her testimony before both houses of Congress on irregularities in the AFP. “She said she had already given much service to the government. If she wants to do it again we will consider it. But at this point we have not formally discussed it " Carandang said. — LBG, GMA News Online