THE anti-graft office has started summoning potential witnesses that would help build up the criminal case against Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia (Cebu, 3rd) and other officials on the acquisition of the Balili property in 2008.
Garcia, who is running for Cebu governor in next year’s elections, is facing two counts of anti-graft and one technical malversation case before the Sandiganbayan.
During a case conference on Monday, Dec. 10, at the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, prosecutors of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) started securing judicial affidavits to individuals directly involved or who may have had knowledge on the Capitol’s plans to acquire the controversial property from the Balili family.
Included in those issued with judicial affidavits by the OSP are lawyer Marino Martinquilla, former provincial legal officer; Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas; an official of the Land Registration Authority (LRA) and whistleblower Cris Saavedra, the complainant.
The aim of the case conference is for the prosecution to collect evidence against Garcia. They will be presented during the preliminary hearing at the Sandiganbayan on Jan. 30 to 31.
In an interview, Martinquilla said he was summoned by the Sandiganbayan to shed light on the P37.8-million refund sought by the Capitol on the lot it bought at the Balili property that was found to be submerged in seawater.
Rodas was also summoned to explain the funds used to acquire the property, while the LRA was there to explain the lot titles used for the transaction.
Saavedra was included in the investigation as he would serve as witness and complainant.
“I will be testifying as a complainant... But the problem here is when I filed a case, I filed a case against everybody involved, but here I’m just surprised why the Provincial Board (PB) was not included in the filing of the case. It was only the (former) provincial governor Gwendolyn Garcia and some of the staff,” Saavedra told SunStar Cebu.
The PB gave Garcia the authority to acquire the controversial property.
Aside from Garcia, also charged by the Sandiganbayan were the Provincial Appraisal Committee, which includes Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, former PB member John Bolo, former Provincial Assessor Anthony Sususco and former Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre. (from SCG of SuperBalita Cebu/JKV)