(Eagle News)– Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has ordered the dismissal of House Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia from service after she allegedly purchased a P98.9-million property when she was the governor of Cebu without authority from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The Ombudsman said the Cebu representative committed grave misconduct when she entered into contracts with Supreme ABF Construction for the acquisition of the 249,246-square-meter Balili property in Tinaan, Naga in Cebu.
“She failed to point out the specific provision in the appropriation ordinance which supposedly authorized her to enter into the contract,” the Ombudsman said, as she directed Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to enforce the order, which includes perpetual disqualification from public office of the respondent, cancellation of her eligibility, and forfeiture of her retirement benefits.
The Ombudsman added Garcia “violated Sections 46 and 47, Chapter 8, Subtitle B, Title I, Book V of the Administrative Code of 1987 and Section 86 of the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines which proscribe entering into a contract unless a certification of appropriation and fund availability for the expenditure is issued.”
“It is undisputed that the (certification of available funds) was issued only after the (second) contract was entered into by respondent Garcia,” the Ombudsman said, also noting that the 196,696 square meters of the purchased property were underwater based on a report from local authorities.
The Ombudsman also suspended provincial accountant Emmanuel Guial “for certifying in the subject, the disbursement vouchers, (which) the supporting documents are complete when in fact they lacked the required authority from the SP for respondent Garcia to enter into contract.”
Administrative charges against acting provincial treasurer Roy Salubre; bids and awards committee chair Marivic Garces; vice-chairperson Bernard Calderon; and members Manuel Purog, Emme Gingoyon, Ma. Junelene Arenas, Cristina Giango, Rosalinda Jao, were dismissed.
