DILG ends hearing on Garcia-Sanchez case

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has terminated yesterday the series of hearings on the usurpation complaint filed by late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. against Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

DILG hearing officer Ranny Spencer Palisoc has ordered counsels of the respondent to submit their formal offer of documentary evidence within 15 days starting yesterday and another 15 days for the complainant’s counsel to file comment.

The complainant yesterday manifested to file additional formal offer as to new evidence and documents that were marked yesterday, prompting Palisoc to give another ten days and another ten days for respondent to comment.

After the submission of all the documentary evidence, the hearing officer will then issue an order for both parties to file respective memorandum laying out their legal arguments.

Palisoc said they are given 30 days to make a recommendation through a resolution of the case to the Office of the President.

“The department does not make any order, we only make a recommendation to the Office of the President which would have the final say on whatever sanctions, if there are any,” Palisoc told reporters.

The last presented yesterday as witness for the respondent was Provincial Board Member Peter John Calderon, the chairman of the PB committee on laws; and budget and appropriation.

Calderon testified that the 2011 annual budget of the Province of Cebu earlier questioned by Sanchez in his complaint was validly passed by the PB.

In the said budget, appropriations for the salaries and wages of the casual and contractual employees of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; Legislative Assistance Fund of the PB members and the Legislative Research and Codification Project were put under the Office of the Governor.

“Ug kung unsa ma’y naa aning maong budget, it certainly validates any and all acts that are done pursuant to this budget,” Garcia’s lead counsel, Christina Frasco, told reporters.

During the cross examination by complainant’s counsel Joseph Randi Torregosa, Calderon pointed out some considerations why the PB recommended to the governor that said appropriations be put under her office.

Calderon said that after the 2010 elections, Sanchez allegedly “threatened” he would not sign the appointment of the employees of the SP unless the appointment of employees of the office of the vice governor be approved first by the governor.

      He said that Sanchez also allegedly “threatened” to block the release of LAF of PB members to barangays asking for it, and the codification project has not been implemented despite appropriations in the previous years under the office of the vice governor.

Asked by Torregosa if he protested formally the alleged threat of Sanchez, Calderon said they did not.

Other respondent’s witnesses cross-examined by the complainant’s counsels yesterday were Provincial Human Resources Management Officer Noli Vincent Valencia; Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin and Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla.  (FREEMAN)