Sanchez's consultants meet with Magpale

CEBU, Philippines - Four of the six consultants of late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. met with newly-assumed Vice Governor Agnes Magpale to discuss the collectibles the Province of Cebu allegedly owed them.

The four are Edgar Godinez (trade and investments), Sophela Ignacio (livelihood administration), Edgar Sibonga (infrastructure) and lawyer Oliveros Kintanar (legal consultant). The other two who were absent during the meeting were Leo Atap, consultant on data programming and development and Manuel T. Manuel (organic farming).

Sanchez’s consultants were receiving P15,000 to P23,000 monthly honoraria.

Magpale said the former consultants claimed their appointments were duly signed by Sanchez and were funded under the Office of the Vice Governor for the period of January to June and July to December 2010. They even have appointment papers signed by Sanchez for the period of January to June 2011 however funding for the consultancy services as well as salaries and wages for casual and contractual employees for Sangguniang Panlalawigan were taken from the 2011 annual budget. Magpale said she is yet to discuss the matter with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia but added she will confer it with Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla since it involves legal issue.

Kintanar confirmed with The FREEMAN that the meeting indeed happened but refused to give further details about it.

Last month, Godinez, Sibonga, Manuel, Kintanar and Ignacio also met Magpale and presented to her the letter of Civil Service Commission affirming the appointing authority of the Vice Governor.

But Magpale said she would not avail of the services of these consultants because she has her own consultants.

Beginning 2010, the contracts of nine of ten consultants of Sanchez were not renewed for the period of January to June 2010 by Garcia when it expired in December 2009 following their falling out between the two highest officials of the Capitol.

This prompted Sanchez to bring to court his bid to keep his consultants when he assumed his third term in July 2010.

Sanchez continued to retain the services of the six consultants insisting his power to hire them.

But since the service contracts of these consultants were not renewed, they have not been receiving their salaries since January 2010. — (FREEMAN)