SPECIAL Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio is pressing for the immediate auction of a Honda sport utility vehicle the government seized from retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, who?s accused of amassing wealth during his term as military comptroller.

A public auction will realize a higher value for the black Honda CRV, which is costing thousands of pesos to maintain while rotting away at the Sandiganbayan?s basement, Villa-Ignacio said.

Proceeds from the sale of the vehicle may be deposited in the court?s name under escrow until the Garcia case is resolved, he said.

It must be sold now before it deteriorates into a useless piece of junk, Villa-Ignacio told Standard Today in an interview.

The anti-graft court lacks funds to keep the vehicle in good running condition, Villa-Ignacio said, adding that it has been five years since the SUV was seized in 2004 for allegedly being part of Garcia?s ill-gotten wealth.

Garcia is facing a P303-million plunder case and two counts of perjury. If he wins in court, then he gets to own the sales proceeds from the auction of his SUV, the prosecutor said.

Villa-Ignacio stressed that selling Garcia?s Honda would be the most logical move to free the court from the burden of maintaining the car.

?This will be a win-win situation both for the court and Garcia,? said Villa-Ignacio.

Since the car was confiscated, Villa-Ignacio said the government has been paying for the fuel and maintenance costs which include oil change, battery check and engine tune-up. Macon Araneta