Tomas says Gwen liable for plunder over Balili lot mess

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is liable for plunder, or so says Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña who called on the Office of the Ombudsman to open their eyes to the Balili lot controversy.

Osmeña in yesterday’s press conference said, the ombudsman should also get the statement of geodetic engineer Fortunato Lazaro of barangay Pardo who made a survey when he was commissioned by one of the huge oil distributors two years ago.

He said they should listen to him as he is neutral in the matter.

The oil company then wanted to build a depot on the same property but backed out upon receiving the report of Lazaro declaring that only five of the 25-hectare Balili property are dry land.

He said 13 hectares are dry when the tides are low, the remaining seven are always underwater.

This would mean that the refund should not be only P37.8 million considering that 80 percent of the property is underwater.

“So how much is 80 percent of the entire P98 million payment? That’s around P80 million, that would already qualify as plunder which is non-bailable if the amount already exceeded beyond P50 million,” Osmeña said.

He said the governor cannot just say sorry or apologize since the case is an apparent gross negligence, not just a plain oversight.

“I don’t know, it’s up to the Ombudsman but I am just giving the facts,” Osmeña said.

The provincial government sent demand letters to the Balili heirs asking them to return the P37.8 million which covers around 9,000 hectares which were reportedly underwater.

The governor categorically denied she personally involved herself in the deal and apologized for refusing to be a cynic.

The deal caused the resignation of First District Provincial Board member Juan Bolo who was reportedly responsible for the introduction of the property to the governor. – Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)