Withdrawal of mandamus case: Court gives Garcia 5 days to comment

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Trial Court has given Governor Gwendolyn Garcia five days to comment on the withdrawal of the civil complaint for mandamus filed by Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr.

RTC Judge Wilfredo Fiel Navarro ordered Garcia to submit her comment on the ex-parte motion filed by Sanchez seeking to withdraw his own complaint citing the court’s alleged inaction as ground.

 Navarro said he will resolve the case after Garcia shall have submitted her comment.

Sanchez earlier sought the withdrawal of his petition for mandamus against Garcia relative to the non-renewal of the contracts of his nine consultants. Sanchez claimed the court lacks the willingness to handle the case as evident by its inaction of his petition.

Navarro is allegedly a relative of Garcia’s mother, retired judge Esperanza Fiel Garcia. 

Sanchez filed a petition for mandamus and prohibition against Garcia following the latter’s refusal to renew the contracts of his consultants. Garcia informed Sanchez on January 4, 2010 that his nine consultants will no longer be renewed on the ground that their functions are already duplication to the executive.

Sanchez protested to it claiming that Garcia’s act was illegal because it is considered an intervention into the affairs of the legislative. But Garcia insisted prompting Sanchez to bring the matter before the court.