Magpale to hold office in executive building

CEBU, Philippines -  Acting Governor Agnes Magpale may be holding office in the Office of the Governor now that it is already vacant.

But she clarified that if she has a choice, she would rather stay in her current office where she is comfortable.

Magpale said she spoke with Acting Vice Governor Julian Daan and the latter does not want to hold office in the executive building.

In a separate interview, Daan said that since he assumed the duties of the vice governor, he should be holding office in the legislative building.

This would also be convenient for him to attend Sangguniang Panglungsod sessions.

Daan said he needs to transfer to a bigger office as soon as possible since he will have more employees considering that he will absorb the staff members of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Garcia has eight coterminous employees namely, Elizabeth Francia, Ronald Conopio, Jerry Catipay, Edwin Mixdon, Mary Grace Paulino, Ma. Elena Samson, Amor Sarmiento and Rowena Zulueta.

In a memorandum, Magpale ordered them to report first to her and failure to follow the directive would subject them to possible insubordination.

Magpale said that the employees of the suspended Governor should be reporting to her but she is not comfortable working with them.

“It’s all about trust and confidence,” she said.

Magpale said they already wrote to the Commission on Elections regarding the planned swapping of staff.

Comelec Resolution 9385 prohibits transfer or movement of officers and employees from January 13 to June 12 as part of the election ban.

In a phone interview, Comelec-7 Regional Director Temie Lambino said they received the letter and that the acting governor is exercising powers and prerogative of her office.

“If it would be better for the service, the transfer is imperative,” Lambino said.

Magpale said that she will only transfer office once the inventory is completed. Yesterday, Eva Encabo of the Provincial General Services Office led the inventory together with Garcia’s lawyer Lito Astillero, some of Garcia’s staff members ,  five employees from Magpale’s office and also representatives from the Commission on Audit led by COA State Auditor Eva Cabrera.

Encabo said they need to set another schedule to finish the inventory since the door leading to the main office of the Governor was locked.

They were able to make an inventory in the staff’s office, conference room, corridors, pantry and the consultant’s office.

Although documents were not included in the inventory, Magpale stressed the importance of securing important data since there are pending payables from the previous years that need to be settled but do not have supporting documents.

Astillero said that they made sure they are present during the inventory so that there will be no planting of evidence.

Astillero said they will continue to fight for Garcia’s right.

“Magpale has no authority to padlock or remove Governor Gwen from office. That is our stand,” adding that what was done was tantamount to removal from service and not a suspension.

Astillero said the Local Government Code provides that only the court is allowed to order the removal of a duly elected official from office.

He added that even President Benigno Aquino said that Garcia can stay in the office.

“This is purely local and administrative. He (Aquino) has complete trust and confidence in what I am doing,” said Magpale.

She welcomes the decision of Garcia’s camp to file a case against them.

Magpale has also issued an order yesterday  reorganizing the committee on discipline and investigation which conducts administrative investigations involving appointive officials and employees of the Province of Cebu.

The committee is now headed by Atty.Michel Ligan with Atty. Rodrigo Urbiztondo, Eduardo Habin, Noli Vincent Valencia and Atty. Czareem Estella as members.

Magpale also ordered all employees of the Office of the Governor, except those exempted by law or authorized by her, to strictly comply with the biometric machine requirement.

Meanwhile, allies of suspended Governor Garcia of One Cebu Party expressed approval of her stepping out from the Capitol and visiting the towns.

Daan said that it is good for Garcia so that she can help her  brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia, in going around the province to promote his candidacy for governor.

Gwen is running for congresswoman of the third district which is currently represented by Pablo John.

Third district Provincial Board Member Cesar Ian Geronimo Zambo also said that Gwen can win even if she is not going around district.

This supports the claim of Pablo John that Gwen is in good position in the third district as against her opponent. Zambo said that One Cebu in the third district is intact and majority of the incumbent officials are supporting Gwen.

Zambo and his father-in-law, Board Member Alex Binghay, are seeking reelection under One Cebu against Engr. Grecilda Sanchez, the only candidate for PB under the Liberal Party.

Gwen is running against Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha of LP.

Zambo claimed that One Cebu has the support of the mayors of Toledo City, Balamban, Asturias and Aloguinsan while LP only has Pinamungajan and Tuburan.

Two days after she left Capitol, Gwen went to Mantolongon Livestock Market in Barili town yesterday with mother Esperanza and brothers Byron and Pablo John.

They stayed under the two tents set up in front of the market while Gwen went around to greet the people.

In a press conference, Gwen said she will no longer return to her office and will instead go to the different towns and component cities to follow the wish of her constituents.

Gwen already visited Oslob, Alcoy and Dalaguete last Wednesday.

Gwen’s father, Rep. Pablo Garcia, claimed his daughter gets sympathy from the people after her office was padlocked.

While the mayor of Barili belongs to LP but the vice mayor, all councilors and almost all barangay captains are One Cebu allies. (FREEMAN)