Sanchez family mulls change of lawyers, visit to office

They’ve found a lawyer but the  family of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. is still searching for a lead counsel to challenge alleged “usurpation” of  Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia in an ongoing administrative case.

Grecylda “Gigi” Sanchez-Zaballero, the late official’s eldest daughter, said the family is retaining the services of lawyer Mryna Limbaga.

Limbaga was part of the legal team assisting Oliveros Kintanar before he was dropped  by his client over “differences” in handling the case.

Zaballero said they need a  lead counsel who  could  hold his or her own against Capitol lawyers  in the marathon hearings of the  Department of Interior and Local Government.

Sanchez accused the governor of “accroachment” or usurpation of legislative power and grave misconduct for drastically  reducing the budget of the vice governor’s office and his discretionary funds, along with other actions allegedly intended to “harass” him.

Garcia is represented by her daughter Christina Codilla-Frasco as lead counsel,  Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda, Provincial Attorney Marino Martinquilla and lawyer  Lito Astillero.

Zaballero  was given three weeks by DILG to find new lawyers to represent her.

Amid newly announced plans by the Capitol to renovate the vice governor’s office, Zaballero was  invited by her father’s successor, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale,  to visit the office anytime.

Zaballero  earlier said she hoped to be able to see her father’s office  before it was changed.

Last week, Governor Garcia visited the building and said Magpale can redecorate the office according to her preference.

Magpale said she was still using the chair and other  furniture of Sanchez.

“Gigi can call me anytime she wants to visit. The only thing that we changed is the arrangement of the table. Everything is still here,” Magpale said.

She told Cebu Daily News that she would want to replace the office carpet  since she could still smell the strong scent of cigarette smoke.

Cracks in the concrete wall will be repaired and repainted, Magpale said.

Pick and  blue curtains will be replaced with something “feminine” , she said.

Other parts of  the legislative building will also be renovated with the coordination of Capitol consultant Tess Javier, an architect. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus