Garcia: Saavedra bribed me with spa treatment GCs

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn has told prosecutors that a “bald man” named Crisologo Saavedra bribed her with complimentary spa treatment certificates to favor his bid for project at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.

But Saavedra denied giving complimentary spa certificates to the governor and told prosecutors that he looks like “Romano the actor” with a lot of hair that time when he first met Garcia at the Capitol.

Saavedra filed libel case against Garcia, who reportedly called him like a mad dog indiscriminately barking and attacking when he filed plunder case against the governor.

Garcia in his counter-affidavit asked the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office to dismiss the libel case which she described as a form of counter-measure of the criminal complaint for malicious prosecution that she filed pending in the same office.

In his reply to the counter-affidavit of Garcia, Saavedra said he reserves his answer until he sees one sheet of complimentary certificates of Essence Spa, which he claimed he owns and operates.

Garcia said she personally met Saavedra in person at her office at the Capitol when she was still serving as consultant on systems, promotions and development for her father, then Governor Pablo Garcia sometime in 2003.

She said she was with former Provincial Board Member Aina Magpale-Asirit when Saavedra, a bald man, entered her office and introduced himself.

Saavedra allegedly introduced himself as representative of Echelon Industries which won the bidding of P44-million rejuvenation project of MCIAA. But Pablo, a member of the airport board, reportedly cancelled the bidding.

But Saavedra denied talking to Pablo as the governor was busy entertaining visitors that time and he did not come back anymore knowing that Gwendolyn is not in the position to help him.

Saavedra claimed he wanted to explain to Pablo that his decision to cancel the bidding has no valid reason and in violation of Procurement Law but Gwendolyn said he was told by Saavedra that his purpose of meeting her was to convince her father to support his bid at MCIAA.

She alleged that Saavedra insisted that she is in great position to influence her father and placed several complimentary certificates on her table and left before she and Asirit could react.

Saavedra said that Garcia has axes to grind against him for the cases he filed against her in the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center and the purchase of Balili property.

In 2007, Garcia filed libel case against Saavedra for accusing her of corruption over the radio.

Saavedra also later filed the same charge against the lady governor for allegedly calling him a “bald creature.” (FREEMAN)