Res Clamat Domino

Hole of Justice

by Peter G. Jimenea

Res clamat domino

Former AFP Controller Carlos Garcia admitted to have acquired ill-gotten wealth of about P135M. He surrendered these properties to the Philippine government hoping to lessen his plunder case.

The P135M ill-gotten wealth of Gen. Garcia is a cheap shot compared to the Iloilo City government P137M housing project, the construction of 413 houses for poor City Hall employees. It started in 2001 and ended in 2009 without a unit completed.

Omb. Conchita Carpio Morales indicted Garcia based on admission of that ill-gotten wealth. But Omb. Merceditas Gutierrez slept over the Iloilo City failed project despite the vital documents submitted and the rusting physical evidence on-site.

While Omb. Morales wasted no time to petition the Sandiganbayan to hold a decision on the approval of that Plea Bargain Agreement entered into by Garcia with then Omb Gutierrez, the latter allowed the Iloilo City housing scam to sleep for six long years at her office.

Omb. Gutierrez barred the Solicitor General from intervening in behalf of the AFP but her deputy said to be a friend of mayor (now congressman) Jerry Trenas played a big role in delaying the resolution of the case. This is what the earlier claim hinted at!

The Resolution was already resolved on May 9, 2005 and recommended for approval by Deputy Omb for the Visayas Primo Miro on May 23, 2005. On why Overall Deputy Omb. Orlando Casimiro signed only the 110 pages Consolidated Resolution five years later, only God knows.

Under the administration of former Mayor Mansueto Malabor, a P23M discrepancy was noted by Overall Deputy Omb. Casimiro. But he overlooked the P90M wastage of taxpayers’ money under Mayor Trenas stewardship of the city.

Yet, Mayor Trenas get-off the hook easily than Malabor does. The indictment creates a misperception that the inclusion of one excludes the other and this is done in exchange for – you know what!

This is not what we think Casimiro’s business is all about. He should know that justice delayed is justice denied. Worse, by applying the selective approach of prosecution, he has now to tolerate brave words to save face!

Going back to the “now plunder case” of Garcia, the 30-day petition of Omb. Morales to the Sandiganbayan re its decision on the Plea Bargain Agreement dated August 23, 2011, has expired last Friday.

But that plunder case transfigured the history of Al Capone’s conviction. Gen. Garcia was indicted by Omb. Morales on Friday afternoon, few minutes before the closing of the office hours and the expiration of her petition with the Sandiganbayan.

In the case of Al Capone, the wise trial judge dissolved the jury comprised of Capone’s stooges and replaced them with his own at the last hour. So, Capone was convicted not of any other crime but tax evasion.

What happened to Capone and Gen. Garcia is history repeats itself.  There is no wise or clever underworld characters who can escape the wrath of God. The guilty will soon be judged. Yes, “A thing clamors for its owner, so as the good case for the Court” as in Latin…… see the title!