Efforts to kill the Garcia probe underway

Yan na, sinisimulan na!

Malacañang has reportedly released P50 million in "discretionary" funds to "silence" legislators and media who have been pursuing investigations into corruption in the Armed Forces, former Sen. Francisco Tatad said yesterday.

Tatad, who said he got the information from Palace insiders, failed to give details but said the P50 million is different from the millions in pesos reportedly being raised by AFP contractors and suppliers to stop investigations of the House defense committee on Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.

It is widely believed that Garcia, who is suspected of amassing wealth while military comptroller, could not have engaged in irregularities without the knowledge of his superiors.

Tatad said his informants told him "obviously Mrs. Arroyo is afraid" of the backlash on her presidency of continued media coverage of the Garcia case.

"The corruption scandal is just the tip of the iceberg. This could end up with the exposé of the corruption of active military and civilian groups affiliated and connected with Mrs. Arroyo," he said.

Proof of Malacañang's "paranoia" over fresh destabilization moves, Tatad said, was the Thursday night dinner-meeting hosted by the President for battalion commanders.

Tatad said the Palace insiders told him Malacañang's hatchet men have launched "diversionary, hush-hush operations" to kill or downplay the Garcia story in media and stop the House from pursuing its probe.

Rep. Imee Marcos (KBL, Ilocos Norte) last week said she had information that a group of retired and active military officers and a number of big arms contractors were putting up P50 million to halt the House inquiry.

She said one member of the group used to head a major service and is among the biggest moneymakers.

The group has also reportedly tapped media operators to try to "tone down" stories on the ongoing investigations.

GET DOCUMENTS

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel said he was wondering why members of the House defense and banks committees have not asked AFP officers to push Garcia's alleged ill-gotten wealth case and provide details of so-called "conversion" schemes resorted to by the military.

"Is this part of the cover-up (of scandal)?" Pimentel asked.

Pimentel said he is favor of the House pursuing its probe but urged members of the House panels to "ask the right questions."

He said the House probe seems to be "going nowhere" because of the failure of congressmen probers to get vital information from resource persons.

CRUZ' SILENCE

Pimentel chided Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz for his silence on the Garcia issue.

"He cannot just stand and say that he lacks moral authority to discuss the topic because he is just new to his post. Either he comes out in defense of Garcia and protects his men ... or he could push for a thorough, no-nonsense investigation ... But he cannot ... keep silent because he will definitely be marginalized," he said.

Pimentel said if Cruz continues to adopt a hands-off position on the issue, he would send the wrong message that he is an "ineffective, ineffectual" defense secretary.

Wag na tayong umasa pa na this investigtion will expose Garcia's other corrupt colleagues in the AFP. Malacanang and their allies are trying to limit the damage to Gen. Garcia only.