FORMER military comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia was arrested yesterday after President Benigno S. Aquino confirmed his conviction by a court martial.

Armed Forces chief General Eduardo Oban said Garcia was convicted by a general court martial of violating the Articles of War.

Garcia was arrested at 7 a.m. yesterday in Barangay Bahay Toro, Project 6, Quezon City. He was briefly detained at the compound of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and shortly before 2 p.m. transferred to the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa, where he will serve his two-year sentence.

He was found guilty on Dec. 2, 2005 of violating Articles of War 96, or conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman; and Articles of War 97, or conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline, which stemmed from his alleged misrepresentation of the value of his assets in 2002 and 2003 and for possession of US permanent resident status while still in the active service. Garcia retired in November 2004.

Garcia’s arrest was hailed by some lawmakers who said it is a clear indication that the administration is serious in its anti-corruption campaign.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said it is about time for Garcia to face the case filed against him which the other court ignored when he was granted a plea bargain agreement.

“The arrest should serve as strong warning to all, especially in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, that the Aquino administration is serious in its campaign against graft and corruption,” Evardone said.

“I hope that there will be no plea bargain arrangement that will set free again General Garcia,” he added.

Earlier this year, the Sandiganbayan approved the plea bargaining agreement of Garcia with the Office of the Ombudsman, which allowed him to plead guilty to two lesser offenses and to post bail despite a P303-million plunder case filed against him.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the President is properly exercising his powers as the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP.

“This is a clear message of his anti-corruption campaign. The higher the official punished, the better!” he added.

Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo praised the military court for thei courageous ruling against a high-ranking colleague that will serve notice to all men in uniform that no one is above the law.  

Malacañang clarified that Garcia should have been arrested a long time ago if only former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo confirmed his sentence.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Arroyo sat on the implementation of the court martial decision against Garcia.

“You cannot implement any decision of the court martial without the confirmation of the President as commander-in-chief. Former President Arroyo did not act on the recommendation,” Lacierda told Palace reporters in his regular briefing yesterday.

“So we are implementing this only now because President Benigno Aquino III has just confirmed the decision,” Lacierda said.

He did not offer any explanation as to why it was only now that Aquino confirmed the recommendation.

The Palace assured that Garcia would not be given VIP treatment as he was transferred to the New Bilibid Prisons.   With Efren Montano