No plunder raps for Gen. Carlos Garcia

Unbelievable.

Despite a freeze order on all the assets — a lot of which may already have been cleaned out — of Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, along with the Sandiganbayan's summons yesterday for Garcia, his wife Clarita and their three sons, Timothy Mark, Juan Paulo and Ian Carl for them to explain why their P143 million alleged ill-gotten wealth should not be forfeited in favor of the government, no graft and plunder charges have been initiated by the Ombudsman, Simeon Marcelo.

House Minority Leader Francis Escudero, yesterday scored Marcelo for failing to file graft and plunder charges against Garcia despite the existence of overwhelming evidence.

Escudero said the failure of the Ombudsman to file at least a graft case against Garcia is a sign that the Arroyo administration is applying a double standard of justice. “Clearly, there is a double standard of justice here,” he said.

Observers also noted that in the case of deposed President Joseph Estrada, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and supporters of then Vice President Arroyo, were quick to act on the allegations of graft, perjury, illegal use of alias and plunder.

“Estrada was ousted even before a case had been filed against him,” the source said yesterday.

Katarantaduhan ito.