Garcia asks DILG: Resolve issues first

CEBU, Philippines - The camp of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has asked the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to resolve first the manifestations they filed before it continues the formal investigation of the complaint for acts of usurpation filed by the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr.

Garcia’s led counsel, her daughter Christina Codilla-Frasco, raised at least two manifestations during the last hearing of the case.

First is the dismissal of the petition on the ground that the allegations were done before the May 10, 2010 elections and Garcia’s re-election into office is covered by the Aguinaldo Doctrine.

The second is whether or not Sanchez’s daughter, Engr. Grecilda Zaballero, has legal standing in pursuing the case.

Frasco said Zaballero has no legal standing because the issue is usurpation of authority and the only person who would have the personality to question whether or not his or her authority has been usurped would be the vice governor himself.

The DILG already scheduled the continuation of the formal investigation on July 25 to 28, 2011 at the DILG regional office 7.

Frasco has filed last week a motion for resetting as she is set to leave the country on July 20 to 29.

When the hearing was suspended last month upon the request of Zaballero, Frasco already made manifestation that she will be out of the country and the hearing can be reset before July 20 or after July 29.

“We hope to be able to receive their response before the 20th (July) if not we will file a reiterative motion following up the request,” Frasco said.

Meanwhile, Frasco was amused with the filing of motion for intervention of Sanchez’s former counsel, Oliveros Kintanar, and friend Crisologo Saavedra.

Zaballero, who terminated the services of Kintanar, earlier said she was not consulted with the filing of the said motion.

“Mura ko nagkatawa. Ka seryoso namo pangandam to defend the governor, sa ilang side murag gihimo ni nilang dakung binuang ning maong formal investigation,” Frasco said.

Frasco said Kintanar and Saavedra might have thought they can easily intervene as long as they see a crack, if there is one, without thinking the rules of procedure that applies.

In this particular case, Frasco said the “governor has rights to be protected against malicious acts obviously done for no other purpose or form than to harass Gov. Garcia, perhaps to gain media mileage.”

“Goodluck nila kung ma-grant ilang motion for intervention. In any event we are prepared to face anyone,” Frasco added. — (FREEMAN)