CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday disproved at least two claims of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale that she was no longer invited to the meetings of the special bodies where she sits as vice chairperson.
Garcia’s chief of staff, Elizabeth Francia, showed to the media acknowledgement receipts to prove that several invitation letters were received by Magpale’s staff.
It revealed that Magpale was invited to the meetings of the Economic Enterprise Council on August 14, 28, September 10, 18, 24, and on October 4 and 24.
Magpale’s name came first in the list of invitees being the vice chairperson of the EEC.
“Mosulti lang gud unta sa tinuod nga di lang siya ganahan mo attend, dili kanang moingon nga wa siya imbitaha. Let’s not say what is not true,” Garcia said.
Magpale also did not attend the EEC meeting yesterday despite having an invitation received by her staff last October 31.
“Di lang ta magsige insist nga wa imbitaha kay there’s evidence that proves otherwise,” Garcia said.
Magpale claimed that she doesn’t know when the council approved the scrapping of the P5 terminal fee at the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) effective October 31 since she was not invited to the meeting.
The EEC approved the scrapping of the terminal fee during its October 24 meeting. Only Board Member Jude Thaddeus Sybico was present from the Provincial Board.
Other members of the EEC from the PB are Board Members Thadeo Ouano, Alex Binghay, Wilfredo Caminero and Peter John Calderon.
Except for Binghay, other PB members in the EEC are allied with Magpale.
Magpale also earlier claimed that she was taken out of her position as co-chairman of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC) and Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC).
Magpale said that she is no longer informed of the schedule of meetings.
But Garcia refuted this saying Magpale was the one who stopped attending meetings, which she called as the chairperson of the PWC.
Garcia explained that like the EEC, the PWC and the PCWC were created by virtue of a Provincial Ordinance.
“Ang membership di na mausab unless amended. So nobody can claim nga gitangtang ni sila sa maong council. Not even the governor can arbitrarily remove them. Their very membership is protected by the ordinance itself,” Garcia said.
Magpale tagged politics as the reason for not informing her about the meetings.
Magpale severed ties with the Garcia when she decided to be the runningmate of Hilario Davide III of the Liberal Party in the 2013 elections.
Davide is running against Garcia’s brother, third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, with runningmate, former Danao City vice mayor Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV, who is Magpale’s cousin.—(FREEMAN)