Garcia rushed to hospital for chest pains, turns out he’s OK

By Ronron
June 2, 2005

Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the embattled former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), was rushed Thursday morning to the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) in Camp Crame, Quezon City after complaining of chest pains but turned out he is just fine, police officials said.

According to PNP Headquarters Support Services Director Chief Supt. Geary Barias, Garcia was taken to the PNPGH at around 9 am, 15 hours since he arrived at the PNP Custodial Center in preparation for the trial of the plunder charge leveled against him and his family at the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court for allegedly amassing more than P300 million from military funds.

Garcia, 56, underwent some medical check-up and tests at the hospital, and was back to his two-meter-by-three-meter detention cell about an hour later.

His hypertension was declared to be under control, based on his blood pressure, the results of his blood tests, and physical examination.

Barias assured that Garcia, just like the other 67 detainees at the PNP Custodial Center, can always avail of medical services of the PNPGH when necessary. “We had to take care also of the health of the detainees,” he said.

Barias stressed Garcia is not given special treatment at the detention facility which is housing suspects in high-profile cases, like former congressman Dennis Roldan and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Martin Soriano.

He said Garcia will be covered of the same rules and regulations imposed in the facility, specifically on visitation, food ration, and detention cell amenities.

Barias said Garcia’s lawyers could visit their client anytime they want to, but his relatives and friends will have to abide with the allowed visitation time.

The beleaguered retired official will not also be given access to the use of cellular phones, television, and air-conditioned units, and instead bear with his wooden bed and an electric fan.

And just like his co-detainees, Garcia will be eating the food served by the facility three times a day, which is all worth P30.00. “But it is not prohibited that (his relatives and friends) would bring food there, provided those are all inspected,” said Barias.

Garcia is staying alone in the detention cell that is good for four persons.

“He seems alright. In fact, he was surprised when he was brought here. He did not bring anything. He was wearing his barong, and I asked him about his other things. He told me, he left everything at the (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines). So, I advised him to get his things because we could not give him anything,” Barias said of Garcia.

Garcia had already been detained since late last year at the ISAFP inside Camp Aguinaldo upon the commencement of his trial at the military’s General Court Martial for the charges of violation of Articles of War leveled against him./DMS