By Rey E. Requejo

The Justice Department has asked the US government for the extradition of two sons of former Armed Forces comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia following their arrest for bulk cash smuggling in 2003.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the extradition request involves Garcia?s sons ? Juan Paulo and Ian Carl?who are facing plunder charges at the Sandiganbayan along with their father, mother Clarita and another brother Timothy Mark for allegedly amassing P303.27 million in unexplained wealth during the general?s active military service.

But Gonzalez also expressed pessimism the extradition request will be granted.

?I don?t have very much confidence on the effort we?re doing now because normally they [US authorities] will try these people and then if they are convicted, they will serve in the US. That?as I understand?is the process. But just the same, we will try for extradition,? Gonzalez said.

He cited the case of former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez who had to serve his sentence first in the US for illegal campaign contributions before he was sent back to the Philippines.

?At least, it?s on record already and the US might accommodate us. The US, I assume, will set that for a hearing to give a chance for these people who have been arrested,? he said.

Garcia?s sons were arrested separately in Las Vegas, Nevada and Pontiac, Michigan last Feb. 25 after they were indicted last year by a federal grand jury in San Francisco.

The Garcia brothers allegedly smuggled into the US $100,000 from Manila in 2003.

The incident led to the discovery by the Philippine government of their father?s alleged ill-gotten wealth during his active military service and his expensive properties in the Philippines and the US.

This incident became the basis for the filing of graft charges against them and their father before the Sandiganbayan.

Last month, the Sandiganbayan convicted Garcia of perjury and sentenced him to two years in prison for misdeclaring his assets and liabilities in 2000.