PB Secretary defends Magpale over alleged abuse of authority

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board secretary said Vice Governor Agnes Magpale is not rushing to decide on the complaint filed against Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco. 

 SP secretary, Atty. Pulchra Marie Acevedo, made the clarification following questions raised by One Cebu Party secretary-general, former congressman Pablo John Garcia.

 Garcia alleged that Magpale is railroading the process, even before the Provincial Board could act on a complaint against Frasco, by “skipping and running roughshod over five steps required under the law and their own rules.”

 Acevedo explained that her office prepared the Notice, signed by Magpale dated December 4, 2015, asking Frasco to submit his verified answer on the administrative complaint for alleged grave abuse of authority filed by Vice Mayor Lucelito Pilapil on December 3, 2015.

 Acevedo said it is their practice to immediately ask the respondent to submit an answer on complaints filed before her office even before the PB could act on it.

 “It was not done in haste,” Acevedo told The Freeman.  Garcia further alleged that per information from an insider, Magpale and her lawyer, Magnificus Cañete, were pushing for Frasco’s suspension despite the ban on suspensions under the Omnibus Election Code, which came into effect on January 10, 2016.

 However, Cañete told The Freeman that he and Magpale have never discussed Frasco’s case.

 “Labaw pa nga wa’y pla-no pagsuspenso,” said Cañete.

 Garcia earlier said Magpale’s act is a form of usurpation of the PB’s authority because under Section 62 of the Local Government Code and SP’s own rules, it is the SP, and not the vice governor, who shall decide whether to require the respondent to answer or dismiss the case outright.

 Garcia said Magpale’s usurpation of authority was further exposed when Frasco received a notice from the SP secretary that on December 7, or three days after Magpale issued the notice to answer the complaint, the PB adopted a resolution referring the complaint to the Committee on Complaints and Investigation “for study and recommendation.”

Pilapil filed a complaint against Frasco for reportedly disregarding the procedure in disbursement of funds when the mayor allegedly distributed scholarship grants worth P3 million despite the absence of an appropriation ordinance.   (FREEMAN)