Gwen gives Leo papers on CICC accounting

CEBU, Philippines - As she promised earlier, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday furnished broadcaster and The Freeman columnist Leo Lastimosa with documents on the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center.

Garcia sent the documents to Lastimosa through dzAB reporter Edison de los Angeles.

Lastimosa had requested a copy of the accounting documents after Garcia gave him a detailed accounting of the CICC’s construction cost last week.

Garcia said she is furnishing Lastimosa a copy of the accounting documents “with a presumption of good faith.”

Garcia said hopes that the documents would finally end mis-interpretations that there was corruption from the bidding to the construction of the CICC.

“This is a step forward for both of us…a closure for this saga…and we both send a signal, a message of hope,” Garcia said.

Lastimosa had been criticizing Garcia in his columns for The Freeman and in his radio programs on dyAB for her alleged failure to give a detailed accounting of the expenses that went into building the CICC, the main venue of the ASEAN Summit.

The conflict between Garcia and Lastimosa, which was frowned upon by many Cebuanos, has prompted Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg to try and settle amicably the libel case Garcia filed against Lastimosa in relation to the criticisms.

Following a close-door meeting at Econg’s chambers, Garcia promised to give Lastimosa a detailed accounting of the construction cost.

Garcia said the documents she is furnishing Lastimosa had been checked and reviewed by the Commission on Audit.

Providing Lastimosa the documents is also to prove that Capitol is transparent in its projects and programs, especially those that involve highly-sensitive issues, Garcia said.

The governor also said she will even invite Lastimosa and broadcast/columnist Bobby Nalzaro to join her in checking projects Capitol is implementing in some of the towns in the province. – Johanna Natavio/JMO (THE FREEMAN)