Arraignment of Gwen reset

CEBU, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has moved to a later date the arraignment of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, her lead counsel said yesterday.

Lawyer Tranquil Salvador said that after a hearing yesterday afternoon, the Sandiganbayan granted the request they filed earlier this week seeking for the deferment of the arraignment, which was supposed to be scheduled for March 12.

The Sandiganbayan, however, did not give a new date for Garcia’s arraignment on the case stemmed from the alleged controversy surrounding the purchase of the Balili property in Tinaan, Naga City.

Salvador, in a phone interview with The FREEMAN, said the Sandiganbayan agreed to defer the arraignment after they filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.

On Thursday, Garcia had asked the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the Ombudsman from prosecuting her for graft and malversation of public funds for her alleged involvement in the Balili anomaly. 

In her application for a TRO, Garcia questioned the resolutions of the Office of the Ombudsman finding probable cause to charge her on the alleged controversial purchase of the Balili property worth P98 million.

Last month, the Ombudsman denied Garcia’s motion for reconsideration. It then filed graft and malversation of public funds charges against her before the Sandiganbayan.

Aside from Garcia, other respondents are former Provincial Board member Juan Bolo, former Provincial Assessor Anthony Sususco, Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre and Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre, Provincial Accountant Emme Gingoyon, as well as heirs of the Balili property Amparo and Romeo Balili.

Last Thursday, the Court of Appeals denied Garcia’s motion for the inhibition of Associate Justice Vicente Veloso, who is handling her suspension case.

Garcia accused Veloso of delaying the resolution of their request for a TRO on her suspension.

In a 30-page resolution, the CA’s 12th Division denied Garcia’s motion for Veloso to inhibit.

The CA also ordered Garcia’s counsels “to explain within ten days from notice, why they should not be cited for indirect contempt.”

Salvador, as well as counsels Victorina Calma, Leandro Abarquez, Jomini Nazareno, Amanda Marie Nograles and Glenn Tuazon were ordered to explain the inappropriateness of singling out Veloso in their motion to inhibit.

The CA, in its resolution, said that it “is a collegiate court whose members reach their conclusions in consultation and accordingly render their collective judgment after due deliberation.”

Order to reply

Meanwhile, Gigi Sanchez-Saballero, daughter of the late Vice Governor Greg Sanchez, said the Supreme Court ordered them to reply on the merits of the case her father filed against Garcia for grave abuse of authority, which led to Garcia’s suspension by Malacañang.

Sanchez-Saballero also said that she was saddened over the case filed against Garcia on the Balili property anomaly.

She said the issue should not have gone this far if Garcia heeded her father’s advice to rescind the plan to purchase the property.

“Two years ago, niingon siya (her father) na basin mag-atubang ni og kaso. Nahitabo gyud. Ug nagpatuo pa sa sugyot na m--rescind, dili unta ta maabot sa inani na situation,” Saballero said. — /LPM (FREEMAN)