Ombudsman junks Gwen’s plea, affirms graft indictment

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales has given the green light for the filing of graft charges against reelected Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, a former governor of the province, over alleged anomalies in the P830-million Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) project in 2006.

In a news release on Tuesday, Morales said she junked the motion for reconsideration filed by Garcia and affirmed the finding of probable cause against her and 11 others for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 Cebu committee charged

Also to be charged are other members of the Cebu government’s bids and awards committee—Eduardo Habin, Roy Salubre, Cristina Gianco, Adolfo Quiroga, Necias Vicoy Jr., Emme Gingoyon, Glenn Baricuatro, Bernard Calderon, Marino Martinquilla and Eulogio Pelayre—as well as W.T. Construction Inc. (WTI) vice president Willy Te.

The 12 are being held to account for allegedly using “alternative methods” of procurement for the CICC project, according to the Ombudsman.

In a joint order, Morales said the “unjustifiable resort to alternative methods of procurement and award of contracts” could give rise to a violation of the antigraft law.

She said Garcia’s act of allowing WTI to perform additional works without an appropriation, contract and sans public bidding had given the contractor unwarranted benefits and cost the government at least P257.4 million

The Ombudsman said she found Garcia’s claim that the charges were “politically motivated” to be baseless.

“This Office, as a dispenser of justice, ensures that justice is meted out objectively, without fear or favor, and that the cases are decided based on the evidence, not on motives, personalities or political affiliation,” Morales said.