Davide: No politics involved in Mayor Garcia’s suspension

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III yesterday denied that the Liberal Party in the province is running after its non-allies, as alleged by former governor Pablo Garcia the other day.

“Wa man na gikugod. There was a complaint filed before the Provincial Board by a vice mayor who happens to be a Liberal Party (member) against the mayor nga nilapas sa balaud sa appointment, according to the committee report,” said Davide in a press conference yesterday morning.

Davide’s statement was asked after former governor Garcia alleged that his son, Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia, is a victim of politics at the Capitol.

Last Monday, the PB slapped Mayor Garcia with a six-month suspension, the longest penalty there is, for appointing a council secretary when it was “supposedly the job of Vice Mayor Efren Gica.”

Gica, who filed the grave abuse of authority complaint before the board, is with LP while Garcia is of One Cebu, a party who sent his brother Pablo John to contest the gubernatorial post against Davide.

“I beg to disagree sa opinion ni former governor Pabling Garcia. I respect him…because he’s a very well-respected (person). But the PB is just doing its job. Maybe before, during his time and that of his daughter former governor Gwen Garcia, wa’y complaints (filed before them),” Davide added.

The older Garcia had said during his time as governor and his daughter Gwen’s, no mayor was suspended. He said the present administration and the PB, which is dominated by LP members, have politicized the proceedings of his son’s case and even “railroaded” it.

Meanwhile, Davide said he could not compel the board to fast-track the investigation of five cases lodged by Mayor Garcia before it, saying it is not within his power to do so.

“I have no control over them. Dunay kaugalingong rules ang PB on matters like this. Sa lawyer ni Mayor Garcia, (you) file appropriate manifestation before the investigating committee to attend to these cases if they feel nga (these were not touched),” he said.

In support to his claims that the board gave more politics than evidence to his case, Mayor Garcia presented to the media the summary of the five administrative cases which he filed before it. As of the other day, these have not been given attention to, he said.

The mayor filed an administrative case against Gica for grave abuse of authority and serious misconduct in office on January 15 last year. On July 14, the board referred the complaint before the Committee on Complaints and Investigation.

“Until now, no action was taken by the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” Mayor Garcia said.

The other cases, all against Gica, are alleged malversation of public property while was filed last March 21, 2014, falsification of public document, grave abuse of authority and serious misconduct in office filed May 29 last year.

Cases against Gica also include dishonesty and misconduct in office and commission of a crime involving moral turpitude, and another grave abuse of authority and serious misconduct in office.

The mayor said all of these were not given action by the board. — (FREEMAN)