Gwen fights back as Sitoy hurts

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia will file today a case for malicious prosecution against a lawyer for filing a case against her in the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Ecology groups led by lawyer Gloria Ramos filed a case against the Capitol, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy and four others for allegedly failing to protect the people’s right to a balance and healthful environment in the ongoing Cordova reclamation project.

Garcia said her suit against Ramos is based on Section 35 of the Ombudsman Act of 1999 that prohibits “any person, who actuated with malice or gross bad faith, files a completely unwarranted or false complaint against any government official or employee.”

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, meanwhile, said he was “hurt” by the filing of case against him before the Visayas Ombudsman.

Their accusers, however, dismiss their reactions and branded the governor’s threat as another form of harassment.

“Nasakitan kay wala man na silay labot sa Cordova nganong sila may mag-apil apil ug unsa akong buhaton? Ug unsay makaayo sa Cordova, kami maoy makahibawo” he told CEBU DAILY NEWS in a phone interview yesterday.

“They’re using townsfolk from Cordova that doesn’t even know anything about it. They make them statements),” he added.

Last week, ecology activists and fisherfolk filed a complaint before the Visayas Ombudsman against Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and five other government officials for the ongoing Cordova Reclamation Project in Mactan island.

They accused the officials of failing to protect the environment and the people’s livelihood, alleging that the project destroys seagrass, mangroves, fish habitats and marine resources.

Also named respondents in the administrative and and criminal complaint were Vice Mayor Rodrigo Jumao-as, Regional Director Ananias Villacorta of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Director Fernado Quililan of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) 7 and EMB employee William Cunado.

Ramos meanwhile said Garcia’s threat is “clearly a case of harassment.”

“But it definitely would not discourage us,” she added.

Another complainant Vince Cinches, country coordinator of 350.org, said  Sitoy’s meeting with  fisherfolk complainant Eddie Quijano is harassment. He is calling the Commission on Human Rights to look into the matter.

Quijano admitted lying to the mayor out of fear when they met last Saturday./Candeze R. Mongaya, Reporter