Sandigan sets Gwen’s arraignment on March 12

MANILA, Philippines - Suspended Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia will be arraigned on charges of graft and technical malversation of public funds before the Sandiganbayan on March 12.

The anti-graft court’s Second Division chaired by Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos scheduled the arraignment just two weeks after the Office of the Ombudsman upheld its decision to indict Garcia over a 2008 land deal anomaly.

Also to be arraigned are her co-accused who include provincial board member Juan Bolo; budget officer Emme Gingoyon; appraisal committee chairman and provincial assessor Anthony Sususco; provincial treasurer Roy Salubre; provincial engineer Eulogio Pelayre; and private respondents Romeo and Amparo Balili.

Under the rules, Garcia and her co-accused are required to personally appear before the Sandiganbayan to enter a plea after the charges against them are read in open court.

After the arraignment, a pre-trial will be set, followed by a preliminary conference where the prosecution and the defense will submit their evidence and list of witnesses who they intend to present during the trial.

Garcia is facing charges over the alleged anomalous purchase of a 24.7-hectare property worth over P98 million for a housing project in Tinaan, Naga City, Cebu in 2008 from the Balili couple.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, in a ruling submitted to the Sandiganbayan earlier this month, junked Garcia’s motion for reconsideration.

Morales held that there was an alleged unlawful diversion of more than P49.8 million in public money from the social services budget of the province since there was no appropriation for such a land acquisition.

Morales said Garcia and her co-accused allegedly acted with gross inexcusable negligence in the purchase of the estate, considering also that part of the property was found to be submerged in seawater and thus not suitable for a housing project.

Last December, President Aquino suspended Garcia for grave abuse of authority for a separate offense of allegedly withholding funds for the office of the Cebu vice governor.