Statement by U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. at the Office of the Ombudsman
January 12, 2012
Statement by U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr.
at the Office of the Ombudsman
During a ceremony at the office of the Ombudsman today, U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. presented Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales with a check in the amount of US $100,000 payable to the Republic of the Philippines. This constitutes the return of money by the United States government considered as “ill-gotten” gains acquired by former AFP Comptroller General Carlos F. Garcia.
Following the ceremony, Ambassador Thomas made the following statement:
“I am very pleased to present Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales with this check today, as a symbol of the continuing commitment of the United States to support President Aquino’s anti-corruption programs, and to ensure that stolen assets are returned to their rightful owners, in this case, the Government and people of the Philippines.”
In November 2003 two of former AFP Comptroller General Garcia’s sons attempted to smuggle $100,000 in cash into the U.S. at San Francisco. The money was seized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and later forfeited to the U.S. when the Garcia men pleaded guilty to attempted smuggling and were sentenced. In 2010 the Office of the Ombudsman requested that the $100,000 be returned to the Philippines under the US-Philippine Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. The money is being returned to the Philippines as part of the U.S. Government policy of returning the proceeds of corruption to its rightful owner.
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