Ombud to rule on Balili case soon

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas has received the report from the Commission on Audit on the controversial Balili Property reclamation work.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said the report will be the basis of the investigators whether to close or upgrade the case to a preliminary investigation.

Apostol said the evaluation report will be out before the month ends.

Apostol said the investigation tackled whether the development was authorized by the Provincial Board and if there was budget appropriated for the development.

The Province of Cebu spent P27 million for the project.

Last year, acting Governor Agnes Magpale and Provincial Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy filed a complaint before the Ombudsman asking the anti-graft office to investigate suspended Governor  Gwendolyn  Garcia in relation to the development in the Balili Property.

Before the filing of the complaint, an ocular inspection at the property was made.

“Garcia maliciously and unlawfully does some reclamation work on the area described as submerged in sea water and as mangrove area,”  the complaint reads.

The public officials likewise questioned the funds used by Garcia because the Provincial Board did not authorize her to spend government funds for the development.

Garcia however, denied the allegations saying the budget is included in the approved budget.

They also alleged that Garcia committed obstruction of justice for allegedly tampering the physical evidence at the Balili Property which is the subject of a case pending before the Sandiganbayan.

Gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide III also filed criminal and administrative complaints against Garcia, provincial treasurer Roy Salubre, Supreme ABF Construction and Construction Supply Company president and general manager Bernabe Gilbor over the development made at the Balili property.  (FREEMAN)