Sanchez’s consultants ask Capitol for compensation

Four consultants of the late Cebu Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez are now claiming compensation for services they rendered to the head of the Capitol’s legislative department last year.

Consultants Edgar Godinez (trade and investment promotions), Edgar Sibonga (infrastructure), lawyer Oliveros Kintanar (legal concerns) and Sophela Ignacio (community interest and development) are claiming consultancy fees of P276, 000 each.

The four consultants said they were hired for a fee of P23,000 per month.

Kintanar said their consultancy fees were withheld in 2010, after Gov. Gwen Garcia took from Sanchez the power to appointment of consultants and employees for the legislative department.

Kintanar told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview that he and the three other consultants met now Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale on Monday to inquire about their collectibles from the provincial government.

They were hopeful of getting paid now that Governor Garcia has returned to the Vice Governor’s office the annual appropriation for the legislative office and the power to make appointments.

During their visit, Kintanar said they presented to Magpale copies of their contracts signed by Sanchez.

Kintanar said the four of them rendered six months of service to the legislative department of the Capitol, which was later renewed for another six months.

Magpale said in a separate interview that while she saw copies of their contracts, these lacked Garcia’s signature.

She wanted to consult with Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla in a meeting scheduled at her office today, to determine the legality of said contracts.

“Entitled sila (to claim consultancy fees) because they said the budget was still here but (their contracts are without the signature of the governor. Ang ilang appointment was only signed by the vice governor. It’s a legal issue that I have to consult with Atty. Martinquilla,” Magpale said.