Sanchez daughter replaces dad in case vs. Garcia

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has allowed the daughter of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez to “substitute” her father as complainant in the administrative case Sanchez filed against Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

In an order signed on July 22, 2011, DILG Legal Service Division Director Jesus Doque said allowing Sanchez’ daughter Engr. Grecilda Zaballero to substitute “is proper so as not to hamper the investigation and to guide the body of the clear view of the facts of the case.”

Doque said the facts of the case can be better threshed out if a formal investigation is continued.Garcia’s legal counsel Rory Jon Sepulveda said Capitol respects the DILG order.

In the same order, DILG denied the request of self-styled whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra to be a party in the case.

“This case is administrative in nature and Intervention is not allowed under Administrative Order 23 as amended, thus we are constrained to deny the same,” the order reads.

Saavedra and counsel Oliveros Kintanar both said they have yet to receive the order, but Kintanar said they will file a motion for reconsideration once they receive a copy.

He warned that with Zaballero alone as complainant would reportedly weaken the case and would just generate a white-washed decision. —(FREEMAN)