Garcia: ‘Gica tried to hit me’

CEBU, Philippines - Even before today’s scheduled preliminary conference for the case involving Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Gamaliel Garcia, a tension has already been reported.

Garcia, who was placed under 60 days preventive suspension, alleged that lawyer Edgar Gica, father of Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica, tried to punch him Wednesday last week.

Garcia said he was talking to Provincial Board member Peter John Calderon, a member of  the committee on complaint and investigation, when Edgar allegedly interrupted the conversation.

“Nangutana ko niya (Calderon) nganong naulahi man ni’ng preliminary conference kaysa preventive suspension. Siya (Edgar) man ang mitubag. Ingon siya nga nganong magbuot man ko. Ingon ko wa man kay labot sa among istorya unya miingon man siya nga sumbagon tika ron. Misumbag gyod siya diritso,” he said, adding that he was ‘lucky’ that Edgar failed to hit him since he was at the other side of the table.

Garcia said he requested for security personnel from the Civil Security Unit to safeguard the area where the preliminary conference was supposed to be held.

The preliminary conference was supposedly scheduled for April 30. However, Garcia asked for postponement since his lawyer, Pablo John Garcia, could not make it on that day. The investigating committee granted the motion and rescheduled the hearing today.

The issue stemmed from the complaint filed by Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica against Garcia for allegedly encroaching on his power to appoint a Sangguniang Bayan secretary.

The vice mayor defended his father and refuted Garcia’s claim.

“I don’t think so. Kusog lang kaayo na siya magpasangil. Nagpa-blotter unta siya that very day kung tinuod pa. My dad is already 72 years old. Di man na agresibo ingon anang edara,” he told The Freeman, in a phone interview.

He added that security in the preliminary conference set today is not needed.

“We are very relaxed. We are harmless people. I’m not threatened and I’m not threatening… But if he needs it, well and good,” Efren said.

Provincial Secretary Anecita Pasaylo, who was present during the supposed preliminary hearing, also denied Garcia’s allegation.

“Tinuod to nga miingon si Mayor Nelson nga wa siya’y (Edgar) labot sa istorya. That portion nga giingong gisumbag siya, di ko mo-agree ana. Wa man gyod na nahitabo… Let’s try doing it fairly,” she said.

But Pasaylo said she already took the initiative to request CSU personnel for the preliminary conference today.

“Kanang hearing lagmit gyod magkatinubagay. Pulos ra ba laki. Pero edukado man hinuon nang mga tawhana. Pero during a confrontation, anything can happen,” she said.— /FPL (FREEMAN)