Cebu gov to present 46 witnesses

MANILA, Philippines - Suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia intends to present 46 witnesses to prove that the graft and malversation of public funds case filed against her by the Office of the Ombudsman should be junked.

Garcia’s lawyers, led by Tranquil Salvador III, said the accused and her fellow respondents in the case are among those who will testify for the defense.

Garcia, who is accused of involvement in the allegedly anomalous purchase of a P99.6-million property in 2008 for a housing project in Cebu, had entered a not guilty plea to the charges last month.

In her pre-trial brief submitted to the Sandiganbayan Second Division dated April 22, Garcia said she would testify and present her own evidence.

Acting provincial Gov. Agnes Magpale, identified in the list as a member of the Balili Properties Review Committee when she was still a board member, was also named as a defense witness.

Other members of the review body, like former National Bureau of Investigation Region 7 director Medardo de Lemos, Sangguniang Panalawigan member Peter John Calderon, former SP member Victor Maambong, former provincial engineer Aldofo Quiroga, and lawyers Rory John Sepulveda and Manolette Dinsay, would also be called.

The Office of the Ombudsman indicted Garcia after learning during preliminary investigation that a large portion of the purchased property is submerged in the sea and not fit for a housing project.

The suspended governor had earlier denied the allegations but will nevertheless submit herself to the processes of the court because “I believe in the judicial process.”