Gwen’s appointees directed to turn over Capitol properties

CEBU Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale yesterday ordered all employees, whose employment contracts are coterminous with suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, to turn over all Capitol properties and equipment in their custody.

This, after Garcia’s chief of staff Elizabeth Francia prevented the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) personnel who were reportedly under Mapale’s orders to conduct an inventory on Sugbo TV and Sugbo News equipment.

Magpale’s order on the prompt turnover of Capitol equipment also applied to Francia.

Meanwhile, Garcia has yet to decide if she will dance in the Sinulog grand parade or not.

“As of this time, I still have to weigh my options very carefully,” she said.

Risk

She admitted that there is a risk she would not be able to return to her office at the Capitol if she decides to dance in the Sinulog grand parade.

Malacañang suspended Garcia for six months over a grave abuse charge. Garcia defied the order and has been staying at her office at the Capitol since Dec. 19.

In the meantime, Magpale assumed as acting governor and ordered the Capitol TV station and newsletter closed.

Francia said she thought Magpale’s order was to have an inventory so she was surprised when she saw PGSO personnel hauling equipment used by the Capitol TV station and newsletter.

Sugbo TV used as its studio a container van owned by the CFI, a cooperative headed by Garcia’s mother.

Czareed Joseph Estella of the office of acting governor, said the “new” Sugbu TV, which is supervised by Provincial Board Members Arleigh Sitoy and Miguel Magpale, is set to operate this week. He said the new staff needs to have the equipment.

Removal

Francia said she has nothing against a physical count of the equipment but she is against the removal of the equipment. She said she has not authorized anyone to approve the removal of the broadcasting equipment.

She said she will consult lawyers about Magpale’s order.

Garcia, on the other hand, told reporters that she is studying Magpale’s earlier statement that she can dance during the Sinulog as a devotee, not as governor.

If Garcia decides to dance during the grand parade, she said, she will probably use one of the gowns at the governor’s gallery and recall the steps she learned from her participation in previous Sinulog festivals.

Own funds

Garcia said that since Magpale had declared that Capitol will only give P500,000 to the Sinulog Foundation Inc., she will use her own funds to extend assistance to the festival.

“If I were the one to decide we would have given a much bigger amount because this is the Sinulog after all. The Sto. Niño has not been kuripot (stingy) to us in terms of blessings and protection. I think when it is time to give back,” Garcia said.

She also said the Rosquillos Festival of Liloan, where her son-in-law Duke Frasco is mayor, will perform as guest contingent in the grand parade with or without support from Magpale.

Rosquillos festival was the winner of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals in August 2012.