Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila De Lima on Wednesday disclosed that she sees a problem with the plea bargaining agreement (PBA) entered into between the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) and former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller, retired Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia.
De Lima said that she saw how the Ombudsman firmly justified the PBA.
"If you have an Ombudsman who does not seem to realize that public funds are involved, in that case, then, you have a problem," De Lima said.
De Lima asks: "How can the Ombudsman say that the plunder case against Gen. Garcia is weak, when the statement of the spouse of Garcia was referring to commissions and kickbacks?"
"Kickbacks presuppose public funds and aren't in most cases before the Ombudsman are about public funds?," De Lima stressed.
"So, we have a problem here kung hanggang ngayon hindi pa nila alam na public funds ang kailangang protektahan ng ating (if until now they have not realized that public funds must be protected by our) anti-graft institution like the Ombudsman," De Lima said.
Likewise, De Lima agreed with the opinion of former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo that a statement of a co-conspirator is a strong evidence in the plunder case against Garcia.
On the withdrawal of the extradition proceedings in the PBA, De Lima said that, instead of working on the extradition proceedings and making sure that the extradition proceedings succeed, they're avoiding the extradition proceedings.
"That (extradition) is the way of ensuring the appearance of Mrs. Garcia para ma-confirm yung sworn statement niya (to confirm her sworn statement)," De Lima said.
De Lima added that such positions are "so disturbing" for her.
De Lima pointed out that, indeed, it's necessary that the Ombudsman should seriously reexamine and reassess their position with the end in view of withdrawing the PBA as well as the Sandiganbayan to take a second look at the PBA.
However, De Lima clarified that she respects the Ombudsman as an institution whoever occupies the position such that the Ombudsman come and go, in the sense that the integrity of such an institution must be preserved and protected. (PNA)
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