Gov, Lastimosa face off in court

CEBU, Philippines - “I state with absolute certainty it refers to me,” Governor Gwen Garcia said upon cross-examination on the libel case she filed against tri-media personality Leo Lastimosa.

Garcia said though accused used allegory in his article in The Freeman Newspaper to hide the real identity of the person who was the subject in his article, “Doling” clearly refers to her.

As evidence, she said relatives and others called her and asked if she had read Lastimosa’s column “Arangkada” at The Freeman entitled “Si Doling Kawatan.”

She said though she was not a fish monger as stated in the article, but it refers to her as they have engaged in business.

“I am claiming now that this column applies to me,” she further reads.

Garcia likewise, shed light on the attorney’s fees of her counsels Lito Astillero and Rory Jon Sepulveda.

She said getting the services of her counsels was out of her personal funds and not in the government funds. As shown on records, the attorney’s fees was P500,000.

Inside the courtroom, Garcia pointed to Lastimosa when she was asked by Sepulveda to point out the accused. Lastimosa was seated at the back portion of the courtroom wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, ABS-CBN ID and wearing glasses.

Garcia said she filed the case in court to clear her name, the name of her siblings and her grandchildren.

She added she went to court as Gwendolyn Garcia, an aggrieved party.

She believed that the attack was made by the accused due to the alleged non-availability of the CICC records.

Garcia said the CICC records were indeed available and there are receipts to prove it.

Lastimosa denied Garcia’s allegations that the commentaries he made were due to lack of accessibility.

“She knew very well that I can interview her and all,” he said. (FREEMAN)