Garcia denies meddling on CICC investigation

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday denied allegations that she has put pressure on Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol to dilly dally with the investigation into the controversial Cebu International Convention Center.

“On the matter of pressuring, I supported (Ombudsman director Carla) Tangco to become deputy. In that sense, I don’t see how any pressure could be applied to Apostol,” said Garcia in a press conference at her office yesterday.

Garcia explained that at the time when the deputy post was still vacant she endorsed Tangco for it, but it was Apostol who got the position.

She also denied that her brother and president of the Government Service Insurance System, Winston Garcia, who is reportedly a close friend of Apostol, could be doing the maneuvering.

A high-placed source however said that Apostol is really out to clear the governor as he was indebted to her family. According to the source, it was Winston who endorsed Apostol to become the deputy ombudsman for the Visayas.

Apostol however belied this information saying nobody except President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who put him in his position.Meanwhile, Apostol admitted that Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has no jurisdiction to approve or disapprove the final evaluation report of the panel that conducted the fact-finding investigation into the alleged anomalous construction of the CICC but he insisted in passing on the case to Manila. He reiterated the Memorandum Order 65 issued by Gutierrez as his basis.

He claimed that under the said order, the Manila office will have to approve cases involving high-ranking officials.Apostol’s justification is in conflict with his admission that the Ombudsman Visayas has the exclusive jurisdiction over fact-finding investigations they have launched.

“Tama yan ang fact-finding investigation ay one hundred percent within the jurisdiction ng Visayas,” Apostol told reporters.Pressed on why there is a need to pass on the decision to Manila when the rules said the sectoral office has the exclusive jurisdiction, Apostol surmises that maybe the rules have already been amended.

The media was also able to force him to admit that the memorandum he cited only applies to cases under preliminary investigation and formal administrative adjudication.

But despite his admission, he continued to offer his alibi that maybe the rules have already been amended and that he was only following orders as a “good soldier.”

He could not give a categorical answer though when asked by reporters when the amendment took effect.

Apostol however assured the media that he will release the final evaluation report of the fact-finding panel as well as that of his own dissenting resolution in due time as soon as he gets the clearance from Manila. — Liv G. Campo and Fred P. Languido/WAB (THE FREEMAN)