PNoy to look into Trans-Axial plan

CEBU, Philippines - Departed Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez’s dream of a Trans-Axial Highway in Cebu province need not die with him.

This as his family handed documents pertaining to the ambitious project to President Benigno Aquino III yesterday morning. The president flew in from Manila to pay his last respects to Sanchez, who ran with him under the banner of the Liberal Party.

Sanchez had long pushed for the construction of the highways that would traverse from Daanbantayan in the northern tip of the island to Santander in the south.

This is seen as a solution to the lack of development in the remote areas in the mountains of the province. 

Aquino accepted the documents and promised to look into the proposal and see if this can be pursued during his administration.

The documents as well as a printout of a letter that Sanchez had intended to send to the president to apprise Aquino of his health condition, were handed to the president by Grecilda Zaballero, the eldest daughter of the late vice governor.

A few months before his death, Sanchez told The Freeman that he was hoping that President Aquino will do something about the Trans-Axial Highway so the project will be realized and this can be considered as one of his biggest projects in Cebu.

Sanchez made the proposal in 2006, but the project was not realized allegedly because of politics.

Early this year, Sanchez had told the reporters that he had sent a letter addressed to President Aquino for him to evaluate multi-billion-peso project.

Zaballero said that when she scanned the personal computer of her father, she found a letter addressed to the president and thinking that it was not yet sent to Malacañang, she had it printed and gave the president a copy yesterday.

Zaballero also gave President Aquino some documents related to the controversial purchase of the Balili property in Tinaan, Naga City that was bought by the Capitol officials at P97 million even if a huge part is underwater.

Her purpose of giving President Aquino the documents, including her father’s counter-affidavit, is for him to understand that her father did not get even a single centavo out of the proceeds of the questionable purchase of the property.

Clad in black pants and polo shirt with his trademark yellow ribbon on his left pocket, President Aquino arrived at the Crystal Palace in Nivel Hills, Lahug at exactly 9:56 a.m.

He was accompanied by former Cebu City Councilor Hilario Davide Jr. and other Liberal Party (LP) officials.

The president immediately went to the casket of Sanchez accompanied by Zaballero and her sister Gerlyda Sanchez-Spiller. Aquino said a silent prayer and half a minute later went to a room for a private talk with the Sanchez family.

The vice governor died last April 29 at the age of 68 after losing his battle with lung cancer.

Since the meeting was private, the Presidential Security Group barred others from going in including Reps. Benhur Salimbangon of the 4th District and Luigi Quisumbing of the 6th as well as Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

The closed-door meeting between President Aquino and the family and close friends of Sanchez lasted only for a couple of minutes. At exactly 10:10 a.m. President Aquino left Crystal Palace and refused to grant an interview.

He was to head straight to Calbayog, Samar to also pay his last respects to the slain mayor Reynaldo Uy.

Meanwhile, Zaballero thanked Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña for helping them have her father’s US visa renewed.

She said that they wanted to bring her father to the United States.

“Dad-on unta namo si Daddy sa United States sigun sa tambag ni Congressman Osmeña apan ang problema kay expire na ang iyang VISA,” Zaballero said.

Osmeña called up the president who personally facilitated the renewal of Sanchez’ US visa.

Zaballero said they received the new via of her father one day before he passed on.

Sanchez is scheduled to be laid to rest this Saturday in Lapu-Lapu City. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)