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MANILA, Philippines ? The provisional arrest of the three sons and the wife of convicted retired general Carlos F. Garcia in the United States is valid under the extradition agreement between the US and the Philippines, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.
The official, who requested anonymity as he has not been cleared to speak on the issue, said the request for provisional arrests of Garcia?s wife Clarita, and sons Juan Paolo, Ian Carl, and Timothy Mark was made by the Philippine Department of Justice to the US Department of Justice, and coursed through the DFA.
The four thus remain in US jails, as the $1-million bond which each posted were turned down.
Together with the retired military comptroller, the four are accused of plunder, amassing unexplained wealth of about P300 million.
Garcia, who was dishonorably discharged from the military after court martial proceedings in 2005, was recently sentenced to two years? imprisonment for lying in his 2000 statement of assets and liabilities. He is now serving his sentence at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
The DFA official said the formal extradition request will follow the request for provisional arrest.
?Their recent detention is based on the provisional arrest. It was served so as to be sure that they won?t get away because the formal one would have to pass several channels. Rest assured, the formal extradition request is under way,? he said.
US-based news outfits said Juan Paolo and Ian Carl were arrested last February 25 for bulk cash smuggling, and are detained in a California jail. In 2003, they reportedly tried to smuggle into the US$100,000 from the Philippines.
Clarita, 58, was arrested last Thursday in Detroit, and shortly after, Timothy Mark was arrested in New York.
The DFA official said the extradition process does not usually have any time frame.
?They would still have to face extradition hearing in the United States. We have to follow judicial processes,? he added.
