Cebu governor denies bribing councilors

CEBU — Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia denied having bribed city and municipal officials with projects worth P70,000 in exchange for their support for the bid of Consolacion town councilor Alfred Francis Ouano for the presidency of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL).

Incumbent PCL president Michael Miranda, a staunch ally of defeated gubernatorial candidate Celestino Martinez Jr., accused Garcia of bribing councilors to enlist their support for Ouano, son of Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano.

"It is my mandate and responsibility to help our constituents and public officials in their projects and programs and I will never shy away from that responsibility," Garcia said.

"In this stressful job as governor, I would like to thank him (referring to Miranda) for providing a comic relief," she added.

Talisay City councilor Rodolfo Cabigas said that while it is true that Garcia offered them projects worth P70,000, this was in no way a form of soliciting votes for Ouano.

Cabigas said the provincial government does give them assistance in their projects every year on the condition that they comply with the required resolution and work program.

Cabigas said the P70,000 promised by Garcia is not something new to him because he also received the same amount during the administration of former governor Pablo Garcia, the governor’s father.

Cabigas said even Miranda himself benefited from the yearly financial assistance given by the provincial government.

Garcia formally endorsed Ouano by raising his hands, together with the other PCL candidates in his ticket, during the presentation of the whole slate to the media the other day.

Aside from Garcia, at least three senators have also endorsed Ouano. They are Senators Pia Cayetano, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Manuel Villar. — Freeman News Service