Gwen Garcia’s plea to inhibit Associate Justice Veloso junked

Suspended Cebu Gov Gwen Garcia CDN PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals on Thursday dismissed the motion filed by Cebu City Governor Gwendolyn Garcia seeking to inhibit Associate Justice Vicente Veloso from her case.

At the same time it ordered Garcia’s lawyers Tranquil Salvador III, Victorina Calma, Leandro Abarquez,  Jomini Nazareno, Amanda Marie Nograle and Glenn Tuazon to explain within 10 days why they should not be cited for contempt for their alleged improper conduct.

Garcia, through her counsels sought Veloso’s inhibition from the case citing political bias which causes the inordinate delay in ruling on her case.

In a 30-page decision, the appeals court 12^th division said they are a “collegiate court whose members reach their conclusions in consultation and accordingly render their collective judgment after due deliberation.”

The appeals court said singling out a member of the division is inappropriate.

The appeals court said Garcia and her lawyers were “overly presumptuous” in claiming that they were able to establish the urgency and petitioner’s grave and irreparable injury during the January 10, 2013 hearing.

“The court therefore, has valid grounds to refer the perceived acts of misconduct of [Attorney Salvador III, et al.] to the Supreme Court for its necessary action under Rule 139-B of the Rules of Court…However, for now, they are merely warned, stern, that henceforth, their misconduct will be dealt with accordingly,” the appeals court said.