Military court tells Garcia lawyers to speed up

By Ronron
June 3, 2005

The military court trying retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia over his unexplained wealth and alleged possession of a “US green card” told the latter’s lawyers Friday to speed up the presentation of their defense as it postponed yesterday’s scheduled hearing to allow Garcia’s counsel to attend to his other cases at the Sandiganbayan.

“We advise the defense to be more direct in presenting their case so that next hearing, we will make headway in the proceedings,” General Court Martial presiding officer Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio said before adjourning the hearing held at Camp Aguinaldo.

The order came after Teodosio granted the motion of the defense to postpone the hearing yesterday afternoon on the grounds that Garcia’s lawyers have to attend to similar proceedings at the anti-graft court, also for Garcia.

But even as the court ordered the postponement, it reminded the defense that it should be able to reconcile their schedule at the military court with the Sandiganbayan hearings ahead of time, considering that there are more than one lawyer in Garcia’s defense.

“We view with concern the seemingly much delay in the proceedings. We’ve been here for so long, but we’re not substantially progressing,” Teodosio said.

But Col. Antonio Doronila, one of Garcia’s lawyers, insisted the defense is not intentionally creating any delaying tactics, saying they have been presenting witnesses and pieces of evidence every hearing period.

The defense has so far presented six witnesses, but, as Doronila admitted, they have not made any significant revelation or claims that support their defense.

“They’re not controverting what was said in the charge sheet. Like, did he (Garcia) file his (statements of assets and liabilities) honestly? That is what the court is waiting for. So far, they’re harping on technicalities and always far from the main issue,” Prosecutor Col. Al Perreras said of the defense.

Both sides, however, were of the same view that yesterday’s postponement was not a delaying tactic by the defense.

Doronila said his co-counsels attended yesterday’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan for Garcia’s cases of plunder and forfeiture of properties.

The military court set the next hearing for the cases of violation of Articles of War against Garcia on June 10, 15, and 24 of this year./DMS