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MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan issued hold departure orders (HDOs) against Cebu Gov Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia stemming from her graft cases.
The anti-graft court’s second division issued the orders on Thursday, August 16, barring her from leaving the country without clearance from the court.
The Sandiganbayan also ordered the Bureau of Immigration to put her name on its Departure List.
Associate Justices Teresita V. Diaz-Badlos, Napoleon Inoturan, and Oscar Herrera Jr signed the orders.
The governor is running for senator in 2013 under Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Garcia recently joined Binay’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, a coalition partner of UNA.
Garcia faces two counts of graft and one count of technical malversation in a case that was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on July 19.
The case is rooted in the government’s allegedly anomalous purchase of a P98.9-million land in Tiga-an, Naga, Cebu. Garcia approved the purchase in 2008.
The Ombudsman and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources discovered that 19.67 hectares of the 24.92-hectare property is under seawater.
Also charged in the first graft case were Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Juan Bolo, Provincial Appraisal Committee Chairman and Provincial Assessor Anthony Sususco, Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, OIC Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre, Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyon, and private individuals Ampara and Romeo Balili.
Garcia was the lone defendant in the second graft case and the technical malversation charge.
Politics at play?
Garcia has denied the charges against her, saying the case was politically motivated.
“It really is a rather surprising turn of events. It would not seem to look as though this is totally an innocent move. We know we are now right in the middle of what is beginning to be a political season. These kinds of moves certainly will bring up suspicion of possible political harassment,” Garcia said in July.
UNA backed Garcia’s claim, saying the supposed political harassment is reminiscent of the Arroyo administration.
The alliance is running against the administration coalition of President Benigno Aquino III.
A former Arroyo ally, Garcia is a member of the Garcia political clan of Cebu, the country’s biggest voting province.
The Ombudsman-Visayas sent its report to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in February, before UNA named Garcia as its official senatorial bet. – Rappler.com
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