Senate threatens to arrest Garcia. but no quorum

MANILA, Philippines - Senators threatened to place former military comptroller Carlos Garcia under arrest yesterday but failed to do so because there was no quorum of at least 12.

Garcia was unfazed during intense grilling by senators over his role in the alleged misuse of military funds during his stint as comptroller.

Garcia repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination, repeatedly saying only, “with due respect…” when he refused to answer during the hearing that lasted for seven hours.

It was Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who pushed for the detention of Garcia after the latter refused to answer the senator’s question on whether he benefited from the so-called budget conversion, especially those coming from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

“Kayo po ba, kaya kayo nag i-invoke ng right against self-incrimination, parang inaamin ninyo na humihingi kayo (Are you invoking your right against self incrimination, then it’s like you’re admitting that you’re asking for money),” Estrada said.  

Garcia had repeatedly used his right against self-incrimination when confronted by senators over revelations of the two former AFP budget officers, George Rabusa and Sonny Lim.

Sen. Francis Escudero also expressed his disappointment in Garcia and reminded the former military general that he had actually “pleaded guilty when he admitted to a much lower offense of indirect bribery” under a plea bargaining agreement.

“Mr. Chair, I am the only one who is facing charges here… I request that I invoke my right against self-incrimination,” Garcia said.

When Estrada formally made the motion to cite Garcia for contempt, there were only three other senators left in the session hall. They were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Escudero and Alan Cayetano.

Earlier, Sen. Franklin Drilon moved that senators discuss next week the possibility of citing Garcia for contempt.

During the hearing, Estrada also asked Garcia if he gave money to ex-AFP chief Diomedio Villanueva.

“Kapag ganito lahat ang sagot nitong heneral na ito, kung hindi kaya ng Ombudsman na ipakulong ito, tayo na ang magpakulong nito (If this general continues to answer this way and if the Ombudsman can’t jail him, then we should put him behind bars),” Estrada said.

This prompted the Senate committee to take a break for a few minutes.

Since there was no quorum, the committee ruled that it could not decide on Estrada’s motion.