Lawyer, Sanchez daughter clash

The Department of Interior and Local Government’s hearing of the usurpation case filed by the late Cebu vice governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. against Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia continued yesterday with the testimony of his daughter Grecylda “Gigi” Sanchez- Zaballero.

Three new lawyers handled the case with lawyer Randy Joseph Torregosa as its lead counsel.

Gigi in her affidavit said her father directed her to continue “his quest for justice.”

No copies of the affidavit were given to reporters but it was flashed on an LCD projector.

In the middle of the presentation, her former counsel Oliveros Kintanar appeared and submitted a manifestation, surprising Gigi.

Kintanar said Gigi “did not advance any valid reason” in terminating his services.

But Kintanar’s manifestation was overruled since keeping or disposing of his services was Gigi’s prerogative.

“In so far as I am concerned, I already terminated his services as my counsel,” she told hearing officer Rannie Spencer Palisok.

Kintanar left the hearing without any word.

Torregosa informed Palisok that they are “withdrawing” businessman Crisologo Saavedra as their witness.

The respondent’s counsels, led by lawyer Christina Codilla-Frasco, contested saying it would be “in violation of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s constitutional rights for due process.”

Corroborating counsel Rory Jon Sepulveda said it would be “unfair” for their part.

Palisok said a resolution on that matter will be determined later on in the investigation.

Frasco’s call for the dismissal of the case will also be resolved through a “consolidated resolution,” Palisok said.

The hearing lasted about three hours. It continues today, when Gigi will be cross-examined.

Three newspaper reporters will also be summoned to testify.

They are Greg Rubio of The Freeman, Oscar Pineda of Sun-Star Cebu and Carmel Matus of Cebu Daily News.

Meanwhile, businessman Glenn Anthony Soco’s camp is planning to file electoral sabotage suit after the Commission on Elections finishes its recount of ballots from last year’s Cebu vice gubernatorial polls, said lawyer George Garcia.

Garcia yesterday visited Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia at the Capitol to inform her that the revision of 20 percent of the ballots has ended.

He told the governor they found more anomalies.

Garcia said it was unusual that there were ballots left unshaded on the position of vice governor.

“That is puzzling. They will not leave blank the position of the vice governor,” he told reporters.

Garcia, an election lawyer, said among the election cases he handled, it was the first time that he encountered “missing documents” that were supposed to be placed inside the ballot boxes.

Because of this, they decided to dig deeper.

Garcia said they will collate the documents and ask that the Comelec summon the officer in charge of the treasurer’s office, guards and officer in charge during the election. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus