Garcia pleads not guilty to launder raps

MANILA, Philippines - Former Armed Forces comptroller Carlos Garcia has pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges before the Sandiganbayan.

He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon three days after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the case against him, his wife Clarita Depakakibo, and his sons Ian Carl, Juan Paulo and Timothy Mark.

Garcia’s family is fighting extradition from the United States to the Philippines.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Constantino de Jesus, Garcia told the anti-graft court’s Second Division that he is innocent.

The retired military officer and his family are accused of depositing more than P303 million in bank accounts sometime between July 2002 and October 2004.

Graft probers said such huge deposits coupled with withdrawals in the amounts of P73 million and $967,215.99 constitute “unlawful activity” punishable under Republic Act 9160, the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Garcia and his family are also facing charges of plunder before the Sandiganbayan.

Prosecutors told The STAR the money-laundering involves the manipulation of funds through various means like opening and closing bank accounts repeatedly to hide money from illegal activities.   – Michael Punongbayan