PB gives Garcia 15 days to answer admin raps

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has ordered Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Gamaliel Garcia to answer within 15 days the administrative complaints filed by his vice mayor over the appointment of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) secretary.

The PB committee on complaints and investigation chaired by Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy recommended the denial of the motions to dismiss filed by Garcia on the complaints of Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica.

Sitoy’s report also found a “prima facie case” to warrant a full-blown administrative proceeding against Garcia.

The report, however, was modified by the board when presented at the plenary. PB Member Thaddeus Sybico moved to give Garcia the chance to answer the complaints.

Sitoy said that his committee considered Garcia’s motions to dismiss as his answer. But majority of the members of the board agreed to require the mayor to submit his formal answer.

As the body approved the motion of Sybico, Board Member Peter John Calderon moved to authorize the committee of Sitoy to proceed with the investigation and said that orders should be delivered personally to both parties.

During the preliminary conference held last February 14, 2014, Garcia submitted an urgent motion to hear and resolve pending motion to dismiss and motion to defer further proceedings before the committee. This prompted Sitoy to resolve the motion and presented his report yesterday.

Gica accused Garcia of committing grave abuse of authority for usurping the appointing power of the vice mayor, obstructing the due exercise by the vice mayor of the power to appoint all officials and employees of the SB, and hampering the performance by the duly appointed SB secretary.

Garcia also filed countercharges against Gica for grave abuse of authority and serious misconduct over the appointment of SB secretary and for malversation of public property for Gica’s alleged failure to return two sets of computer and laptop when the latter’s term as councilor expired on June 30, 2010.  (FREEMAN)