Gwen posts bail for graft charges

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia did not wait for a warrant of arrest to be served and posted bail yesterday in relation to the graft charges against her for the alleged anomalous purchase of the Balili property in Naga City.

First Executive Judge Soliver Peras of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 issued a release order for the governor after she posted the recommended bail.

Garcia, assisted by her daughter lawyer Christina Garcia-Frasco, voluntarily surrendered to the court at around 1 p.m. yesterday and posted a P90,000 bail for her temporary liberty.

Aside from Garcia, four others submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the court and posted P30,000 bail for their temporary liberty.

They were co-accused Anthony Sususco, then Chairman of the Cebu Provincial Appraisal Committee and Provincial Assessor; Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre; Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre; and Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyon.

No copy yet

Frasco said they cannot yet divulge their next move until they will receive the resolution.

She added that the filing of the case will not affect her mother’s plans of running for a seat in the senate next year.

Frasco said that her mother’s reason for running is to help her fellowmen.

She will only be representing her mother and not the others accused in the case.

Salubre, on the other hand, said he was surprised of the case.

“It makes me worried and my family as well but I have to face it, this is part of my job,” he said in Cebuano.

Three cases

The Office of the Ombudsman-Manila has filed three cases against Garcia for violation of Section 3 (e) and (g) of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and technical malversation punishable under Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code.

The filing of the cases came after Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found probable cause to indict Garcia.

The other accused Sususco, Salubre, Pelayre, Gingoyon, former Provincial Board Member Juan Bolo and lot owners Amparo and Romeo Balili were charged for one count of a violation of Section 3 (e) of RA 3019.

Morales signed the Resolution of the complaints on July 13.

The Ombudsman has, however, dismissed the case against Vice-Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., because he has already died.

Also cleared were former Provincial Board (PB) member now Vice-Governor Agnes Magpale; PB Members Wilfredo Caminero, Peter John Calderon, Julian Daan; and former PB Members Jose Maria Gastardo, Victor Maambong, Joven Mondigo, Jr., Teresita Celes, Rosemarie Durano, Wenceslao Gakit, Alfred Francis Ouano and Bea Mercedes Calderon for insufficiency of evidence.

Also cleared were members of the technical working group Mariflor Vero, Pilar Yburan, Michelle Languido, and Roger Dumayac,

Morales said the complainants failed to establish their participation over the case.

Morales also dismissed the complaints of plunder and a violation of Section 3 (a) of RA 3019 for insufficiency of evidence.

UNA supports Gwen

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) expressed concern for Garcia and hit at the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, which it blamed for the filing of the case.

Gwen tackles case in SONA

Garcia became emotional as she started talking about the timing of the filing of the graft charges before the Sandiganbayan last Thursday and the immediate raffling of the case yesterday.

Garcia instead thanked those that have been “responsible for all of these machinations because surely people can see through what the ugly hand of political harassment and political persecution has achieved.”

“Sayud kita kung unsay buot nilang mahitabo kanako gani buot pa man gani nila nga ako ilang mapapriso aron dili ko makahatag niining akong husay kaninyo karong hapona,” (We know what they want to happen to me as they even intended that I be imprisoned so I cannot give you this report this afternoon) she said.

Garcia took it as another big challenge for her saying that, “apan tungod ug alang kaninyo, atubangon ko kini ug dili ako magpalupig kanila.” (For you, I will face this and I will not cower.)

“They now hope to use, to deprive you of a governor you did elect and put in place someone you did not,” Garcia said as the audience estimated to be around 8,000 burst in applause.

Enrile’s comment

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said that the cases filed against Garcia are “obviously political.” He was among the prominent political personalities at the SOPA yesterday,

According to Enrile, it will not affect the inclusion of Garcia in the UNA senatorial line up as she is innocent until proven guilty of the charges filed against her. —with Gregg Rubio and Jose Sollano/NLQ