Garcias warn Garbo against vendetta

CEBU, Philippines - For reportedly issuing statements that put to risk the son of suspended Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Paulo, the family has warned Police Regional Office 7 Director, C/Supt. Marcelo Garbo, to be liable if anything happens.

In a press conference late Tuesday evening, Garcia bared that some motorcycle riding elements have been tailing Paulo.

“If anything happens to any of my children, I will hold Gen. Garbo liable for all of these,” Garcia said.

The police and Paulo filed counter-charges against each other brought about by the tension at the Capitol for two weeks already.

Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia earlier accused Garbo of waging a personal vendetta against the governor and her family.

Deputy Speaker Pablo “Pabling” Garcia stressed that reports from Garbo’s camp is “disturbing.”

“Unsa’y naka-disturb kanako kining vendetta, manimalos kuno si Gen. Garbo sa mga Garcia labi na gitumong nila si Paulo,” Pabling said. (What disturbs me most is this vendetta, Gen. Garbo is said to take revenge against the Garcias and they are zooming in on Paulo.)

Garbo earlier said that they are considering listing Paulo’s airsoft group as a “potential” private armed group, after they were allegedly seen armed during a mass at the Capitol.

He said that they might be a threat to the peace and order situation in Cebu, considering Paulo and his friends’ attitude and the possibility that the group’s weapons would be used for illegal activities as the May 2013 election approaches.

Pabling said that they are warned by friends to be careful because the police might secure search warrant against Paulo and there is possibility of planting evidence.

“I appeal to Gen. Garbo nga dili unta nila kini buhaton… We are only trying to protect our interest,” Pabling said.

Paulo’s sister, lawyer Christina Garcia-Frasco, said Garbo’s statement is very alarming and he is laying a foundation to justify asking a search warrant against her brother.

Frasco has begged Garbo to stop issuing reckless and unsubstantiated statements.

Garbo, in reply, said, “In this crisis, I am not the decision maker but I am just an implementor.”

This was how Garbo defended himself after reports that there were men monitoring the Garcia siblings and the plan to disapprove the license and the permit to carry firearm outside the residence of Paulo Garcia.

Garbo clarified that anything that happened was not within his authority but he was just implementing the directive of the national headquarters and the DILG hierarchy to maintain peace and order as their primary objective amid the Magpale and Garcia battle.

“I am just a plain and simple police officer and director of the PRO-7… They are (Garcia) entitled to their own opinion and beyond that I cannot make comment and I do not want to enter political and legal battle with them,” Garbo said.

Garbo said they exercised maximum tolerance and whatever insinuations made by the Garcias, he wishes they would not include the PNP.

“Even from day one I have an open line communication with the suspended governor and two days ago nakausap ko si Pabling Garcia and he requested me of some matters and I acted on it properly,” he said.

Garbo said all his actions are within the parameters of the operational procedures. He added that he will inform Garcia even the implementation of any order against her.

“I will tell her how to evict her may be at the end of holiday season,” he said.

With regards to Paulo’s permit to carry firearms outside of residence, Garbo said he already informed PNP Chief Alan Purisima and Garbo believed that 90 percent, Purisima would disapprove the license and permit to carry of Paulo.

“He is just waiting for my recommendation,” Garbo said.  — /JPM (FREEMAN)