Ombuds clears Gigi of grave abuse of authority

CEBU, Philippines — Citing lack of substantial evidence, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has dismissed the administrative complaints against former Cebu Provincial Board member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer II Darius Sagadal found insufficient grounds to hold Zaballero administratively liable.

Zaballero was charged of grave abuse of authority, unauthorized use of a government vehicle and conduct prejudicial to public interest.

The complaints were filed by Zaballero’s sister-in-law, Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro, the estranged wife of the former’s brother, Leodegreco “Greco” Sanchez.

Castro accused Zaballero of meddling in the investigation of the Highway Patrol Group-7 into the car theft complaint she lodged before the agency against Maricel Gregory, the former wife of Sanchez, and an unidentified man last October 13.

She said the vehicle was stolen by two people from a car wash shop in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City last Oct. 13.

In her complaint, Castro said Zaballero “intervened and actively involved herself in a private matter between married couple” by asking for video footage captured by the closed-circuit television installed outside the legislative building.

The prosecutor said Zaballero even called several high-ranking police officials to report the missing vehicle of her brother “as if she is the owner of the vehicle.”

In her counter affidavit, Zaballero denied the allegations filed against her, claiming that she only helped her brother report the carnapping incident to the police.

Castro also filed carnapping charges against Sanchez before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office on October 19, 2015 after the latter allegedly refused to return the vehicle.

Last October 26, Sanchez called for a press conference in his sister’s office and announced that his Ford Ranger WildTrak went missing barely 30 minutes after he parked it outside the legislative building inside the Capitol compound that day.

Sanchez said Castro has the key of the car, which the couple loaned for P1.61 million on September 1.

Aside from intervening in the case, Castro alleged that Zaballero used her government-issued Toyota Hi-Lux to transport Sanchez from his rehabilitation center in Argao town to Cebu City when he was undergoing drug rehabilitation.

This was also denied by Zaballero, saying her family owns 14 vehicles.

The graft investigator said the charges were dismissed because Castro did not submit any evidence to support her allegations against Zaballero.

It can be recalled that Castro was suspended twice in 2015 and 2016.

Last year, Castro was meted with six-month suspension by the Supreme Court for filing two petitions for the annulment of her marriage before two different courts in Cebu, an act prohibited by law.

The SC's Third Division held that Castro's act constitutes "forum shopping," or filing of multiple actions arising from the same cause, thus, violating the Code of Professional Responsibility, which lays down rules of ethics for the members of the Bar.

On June 2, 2015, the SC also suspended Castro for six months without pay for wielding excessive influence when she asked police to help her brother who complained about a defective vehicle in 2001. (FREEMAN)