Vice governor to speak out vs. Capitol's "tyranny"

CEBU, Philippines - In defense of the legislative department whose rights he claims were trampled by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. promised to deliver a privilege speech tomorrow afternoon before the members of the Provincial Board.

“Mura man og gi-trample niya ang institution sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” said the vice governor who added he will talk about “democracy and tyranny”.

He cited the termination of the contracts of his nine consultants and the removal from his office of the computers and other office equipment. The governor also withheld Sanchez’s P23 million Legislative Assistance Fund in which the vice governor has the prerogative to identify his own projects.

The vice governor however said he has already prepared himself for what he calls political harassment after he bolted the One Cebu Party.

Despite all this he said he has no regrets for severing ties with Garcia.

Sanchez also said he will not dignify the statement of Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda’s who threatened to sue him for graft and corruption for allegedly assigning at least four casual and contractual employees under the Office of the Vice Governor to work for his private farm in Tuburan.

“Who is he? He is just acting like a little governor,” Sanchez said.

Both men have known each other for 20 years as they used to work for former governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña.

Sepulveda said that Sanchez’s refusal to answer and instead accuse him of diverting the issue is an indication that something is wrong in his assigning Capitol employees to work for his private farm.  

The vice governor challenged Sepulveda instead to just file the case if he has evidence against him.

“I don’t answer person nga gitawag ni Mayor Tommy Osmeña og low I.Q.,” Sanchez added. — Fred P. Languido/BRP