CEBU, Philippines - A hotel at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City has billed the Cebu provincial government for the accommodation and meal expenses of hundreds of alleged supporters of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
Sugbutel Family Hotel, owned by Carlos A. Gothong Holdings, Inc., sent billings to the Office of the Governor which were then forwarded to the office of acting governor Agnes Magpale yesterday.
The three separate billings showed the total amount of P200,000 incurred by more than 500 persons staying at the hotel on December 18 and 19, 2012.
On December 18, rumors broke out that a suspension order was about to be served to Garcia, prompting her supporters to gather at the Capitol grounds the next day for a prayer vigil.
The following day, the suspension order was served by Department of Interior and Local Government-7 director Ananias Villacorta immediately followed by Magpale taking oath as acting governor.
“That was the day of the rally, why will we pay for that?” Magpale said.
Most of those who attended the prayer vigil are Barangay Health Workers from different towns who reportedly have activities at the Capitol when the suspension order was served.
Magpale’s review staff also noticed the words “One Cebu” appeared in the hotel’s statement with some names of persons below.
They are now finding out whether the hotel has a room named “One Cebu “or those who billeted belong to One Cebu, the political party of Garcia.
“Interesting. Everyday we are discovering something,” Magpale said.
Magpale’s office has been receiving billings of expenses incurred by the province before Garcia was suspended.
Yesterday, a representative of FEP Printing, the printer of Sugbo News, also reported that the province has a payable amount of P13.7 million.
Magpale said that she also met Engr. Willy Go of WTG Construction yesterday and was informed that the province has payables amounting to P46 million.
She said the total payables are now estimated to reach P300 million, adding that a review is ongoing every day. — (FREEMAN)