HOUSE Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia believes that her active participation in the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has prompted Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to order her dismissal.
On Monday, February 12, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Garcia for grave misconduct over the signing of a P24.4-million contract in April 2012 for the supply of backfill material for the Balili property in the City of Naga in Cebu, while she was governor. The acquisition of the Balili property was also deemed anomalous, considering that the bulk of the land is underwater.
"The timing is rather suspect. It does seem as though the Ombudsman has singled me out on an act that was done while I was still governor several years ago and you rather wonder whether this was purposely done precisely because as you saw I am very active in this committee hearing against Chief Justice Sereno," she said.
"Considering that I have been vigorously and actively involved in the dispatch of impeachment complaints such as the one against Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, it is no surprise that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who now faces an impeachment complaint against her, would want to have the impeachment complaint dismissed by strong arming key members of Congress such as myself. My dismissal from service at her hands makes her motivation far too obvious," Garcia said in a statement on Monday.
"I note that the complaint in this case was filed by now Governor Hilario Davide at the height of the 2013 elections in an attempt to suspend me and influence the elections. I certainly hope that the Ombudsman will act on my complaint regarding Davide's criminal neglect of the CICC with the same vigor and haste," she added.
Garcia said she will leave it to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez whether or not to implement the dismissal order.
Alvarez was ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman to implement the dismissal order against Garcia.
Alavarez, however, said on Monday that he will not implement the Ombudsman's order.
House Majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas said members of the House will decide at the forthcoming plenary session whether to implement the Ombudsman's order.
He said before it decides, the plenary, under the rules of the House, should first look into the validity and relevance of the order coming from a court or administrative body, in this case, the Office of the Ombudsman.
Garcia said she will continue to work as representative of the 3rd District of Cebu.
"I will continue to be active in the impeachment hearing...I have not even received a copy of the resolution nor had the opportunity to file a reconsideration," she said.
She declined to comment when asked if she will seek the reversal of the ruling.
The dismissal order against Garcia carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits. (SunStar Philippines)