Gwen to reply only to case from Ombuds

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will only answer the complaint filed by the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (PACPO) of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas on the controversial Balili land deal.

Capitol consultant and spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda said Garcia is not dignifying the complaints filed by self-style anti-graft crusader Crisologo Saavedra and a certain Manuel Manuel.

“Sakay sa panahon ra man na sila,” Sepulveda told Capitol reporters.

The order from the anti-graft office however said Garcia and the other respondents of the criminal complaint for alleged graft and corruption arising from the purchase of the Balili property have to submit their counter-affidavits within 10 days on the consolidated complaints of PACPO, Saavedra and Manuel.

Saavedra and Manuel separately requested the Ombudsman Visayas to look into the alleged anomalous purchase of the property in Tinaan, Naga City amounting to P99 million.

The fact-finding investigation found sufficient grounds to upgrade the investigation into formal criminal and administrative adjudications.

Garcia and the members of the provincial board led by Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez including the members of the Cebu Appraisal Committee and its staff have been recommended to face formal charges. In the consolidated complaints now pending at the Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Adjudication Bureau (PARB) of the anti-graft office in Manila, it appeared that Manuel and Saavedra are also filing complaints against their friend, Sanchez. 

However, the Order dated March 16, 2011 signed by PARB director Mary Antonette Yalao only has the attached complaint of PACPO-Visayas.

But the complaint docketed as OMB-C-C-11-0017-A for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act appears as PACPO-Visayas, Manuel and Saavedra as against Garcia, Sanchez, and the rest of the respondents.

Sepulveda said that only the complaint of PACPO will be answered by the respondents.

The PB members at the time of the Balili land purchase in 2008 were Agnes Magpale, Victor Maambong, Peter John Calderon, Julian Daan, Wilfredo Caminero, Jose Ma. Gastardo, Rose Marie Durano, Joven Mondigo Jr., Wenceslao Gakit, Alfred Francis Ouano, Teresita Celis and Bea Mercede Calderon.

Board Member Juan Bolo and nine others will be charged separately for allegedly “conspiring and confederating with each other in the purchase of a land which is classified as timberland”.

Also ordered to file counter-affidavits are the appraisal committee members Anthony Sususco, Roy Salubre and Eulogio Pelayre; the technical working group Mariflor Vero, Michelle Languido, Roger Dumayac, Pilar Yburan; and private individuals Romeo and Amparo Balili.  (FREEMAN)