What the hell is wrong with our country? Ex-General Carlos Garcia was able to walk free (on bail) after pleading guilty to a lesser offense and offering to return less than half of what he took from the AFP’s coffers, a plea bargain others think was not necessary.
Garcia, who was earlier charged with plunder, struck a deal with the state prosecutors to admit to a lesser offense and return less than half of what he took from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) coffers. What is ironic is the Ombudsman approved the plea bargain which contravenes with the very nature of the Ombudsman’s Office — to protect the interest of the people.
According to retired Catholic Archbishop Oscar Cruz, the plea bargain agreement was very odious and unpalatable. “I’m just saying that the precedent set by this ruling is devastating … Why is it like that? That someone who is 99.91 percent guilty of bribery and plunder—including the wife and the two kids—all of a sudden gets away with a plea bargain,” Cruz said.
So, now it’s okay for someone to commit plunder, make money, and get away with it with just a slap on wrist. A classic example is the case of former President Joseph Estrada — he was convicted of plunder but he still got away with it.
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