Gica, Garcia debate over illegal transactions

CEBU, Philippines - Acting Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica bared alleged irregular transactions he found while Mayor Nelson Garcia is under preventive suspension.

Gica accused Garcia of falsifying bidding documents for the proposed construction of Dumanjug Megadome project.

There are two sets of Program of Works and Estimates (POWE) dated February 14, 2013, with the same project cost of P14.8 million. One POWE indicates the amount of P732,500 for the project construction management.

According to Municipal Engineer Danilo Phua, there was a revision made since infrastructure and consultancy works cannot be undertaken by the same contractor. Garcia confirmed the revision saying the Bids and Awards Committee decided not to include consultancy fee in order to expand the project using the amount for additional materials.

Gica also questioned the granting of Representation and Travelling Allowance (RATA) to Emmylou Cabonilas, Garcia’s designated Sangguniang Bayan secretary, in the amount of  P14,000 per month.

Garcia’s preventive suspension stemmed from the administrative complaint filed by Gica before the Provincial Board over the appointment of SB secretary, saying that only department heads are entitled to receive RATA.

Garcia said there was a mistake in indicating the amount given to Cabonilas since it was not actually RATA.

Gica said he will file another administrative complaint before the PB based on the documents he found which could possibly lead to another suspension of Garcia.

Governor Hilario Davide III ordered on April 11 the preventive suspension of Garcia following the recommendation of the PB. Garcia, on the other hand, said the PB cannot suspend him more than 90 days in the same year under the law.

Meanwhile, Cebu Provincial Governor Hilario Davide III laughed of what happened between Garcia and Gica during the preliminary conference Wednesday last week.

“Wa ko kita ana, kabasa ra ko sa newspaper (I did not see it, I just read it in the newspaper) but I do not know if that really took place…Well, ang ako lang ikasulti ana, boanga panghitaboa di man unta angay moabot anang puntoha (all I can say is that it was uncalled for, it should not reach that point).”

He also stated that he will not comment on the incident because it was not a big issue for him. The governor also said he has done his job, keeping his promise to issue an order on the motion for reconsideration filed by Mayor Nelson Garcia.

However, as regards Garcia’s request for security personnel from the Civil Security Unit to keep the area where the preliminary conference was supposed to be held, Davide said it is not necessary to have a security as long as the committee would act in a civilized manner. — (FREEMAN)