The daughter of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez and Pinamungahan Mayor Geraldine Yapha wanted the arraignment of suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to be held in Toledo City.
In a letter to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez-Zaballero and Yapha said the respondents are Cebu-based so the proceedings should not be held in Manila.
“All the litigants and key witnesses as well as the evidence related to this case are based or located in Cebu province. It will be more expedient, convenient, and cost effctive if the hearings were held here,” Zaballero and Yapha said.
The arraignment of Garcia and the other respondents in relation to the purchase of the Balili beach property in Naga City, south Cebu are scheduled on Thursday.
Lawyer Tranquil Salvador III earlier said the arraignment was moved from March 12 to give way to the High Court to resolve their petition for certiorari that was filed last Monday.
As a rule, Garcia and the other respondents have to personally appear before the CA’s 12th division in Manila during the arraignment —the period when the court take jurisdiction of the accused.
After the arraignment , the CA may issue a preventive suspension order against the respondents.
Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol earlier explained that a preventive suspension is “mandatory” after arraignment.
Garcia is facing three criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan for the alleged irregular purchase of the 24.7-hectare beach front property in Naga City.
The other respondents were provincial treasurer Roy Salubre, provincial budget officer Emme Gingoyon, retired provincial assessor Anthony Sususco, provincial engineer Eulogio Pelayre, former Provincial Board member Juan Bolo and land owners Amparo and Romeo Balili.
Yapha is running against Gwen for Cebu’s 3rd district seat while Zaballero will run for a Provincial Board (PB) seat representing Cebu’s third district. Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol