Manpower woes delaying cases vs elected officials

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III believes that the lack of workforce in the investigating committee of the Provincial Board has contributed to the “slow” resolution of cases involving elected officials.

Davide said the concern on the lack of personnel was brought to his attention last year by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and board member Griselda Sanchez, who co-chairs the PB Committee on Complaints and Investigation.

Magpale also admitted that the investigating committee is “overloaded” with 21 pending cases filed before the body with only few personnel working.

To address the concern, Davide said the province hired additional consultants under the Vice Governor's Office, including a lawyer who is assigned for the investigating committee.

Last week, the PB authorized Davide to enter contracts with 13 consultants, some of whom are lawyers.

"They (Magpale and Sanchez) requested nga magbutang og additional personnel... They really need assistance of a lawyer to fast-track the resolution of the cases that are being investigated by the committee," the governor told reporters.

He noted that the committee only had one lawyer member, namely board member Peter John Calderon.

The statement of Davide on the supposed lack of manpower for PB’s investigating panel came on the heels of the allegation of Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia that the PB is not acting any of his four complaints filed against his Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica.

The first complaint he filed, which was a case of malversation of public property, was made March last year.

Garcia earlier disclosed his plan to withdraw his complaints because of the “unfair judgment” of the PB, whose members are allies of Gica.

Garcia also alleged that his complaints are not being looked into by the body, saying he has gone tired of waiting.

For her part, Magpale explained that there are processes and internal rules that need to be “strictly” followed and complied with.

"Di man na madali-dali kay naa ma’y proseso. Kung di na nato sundon, kita pud ang madaot," she said when asked to comment on Garcia's claim.

In an effort to expedite the resolutions of the cases, the PB earlier introduced  amendments to the ordinance governing the rules and procedures in its investigating committee, especially on the implementation of stricter time frame on filing of answers. — (FREEMAN)