‘We were caught in the crossfire’

TWO other respondents in the Balili case –  long-serving Capitol officials –   expressed shock and disbelief in the decision of the Ombudsman finding them guilty of grave misconduct for their involvement in the 2008 land purchase.

Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre was surprised upon learning that he was ordered dismissed from the service by the Ombudsman.

“Labaw pa sa kurat. I was very shocked. Lisud kaayo. Ang ato mao lang ang pagpanarbaho. (I was very shocked. We’re in a very difficult situation when we’re just doing our job),” Salubre told reporters.

“Luoy kaayo mi nga mga appointed officers. Kami, we’re just doing our job. Naigo lang mi sa crossfire. (We, appointed officers, have to bear the burden. We’re just doing our job yet we were hit in the crossfire),” he added.

Salubre, who has been the provincial treasurer for 10 years, said he has not yet received a copy of the ruling. He said he intends to contest the verdict.

“We will file a motion for reconsideration first. Then we will exhaust all legal remedies. We have the right to appeal. We must prove our innocence,” the 43-year-old Salubre said.

He said he and his family have been affected by the case.

“I’m worried. I explained to my family that these are the risks of the job. If this is the will of the Lord, we have to take it,” said Salubre who has three children aged 17, 16, and 10.

Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyon was teary-eyed when he faced reporters yesterday.

“Lisud tubagon ang inyong pangutana kay lisud tubagon ning problemaha. (Your questions are hard to answer since this problem is difficult to address),” he said.

He said he was surprised with the verdict since they were not given a chance to answer the allegations in the administartive case.

“I never received an administrative complaint. I was not given a chance to answer the accusations. I’m shocked,” Gingoyon said.

“I will handle it  once I get a copy of the order. Wa pa man ko kakita murag ang newspaper pa man ang naay kopya, I will study it and I will confer with a lawyer about it.”

Like Salubre, Gingoyon said he will contest the ruling of the Ombudsman.

“I’m innocent. I would not  have been in government service if I did not intend to follow the law,” said Gingoyon who has been working in the government for the past 20 years.

Four Capitol officials stand co-accused with Gov. Gwen Garcia.

Juan Bolo was a former PB member.

Anthony Sususco was head of the Provincial Appraial Committee which evaluated the Balili property. He later retired as provincial assessor.

His members were Roy Salubre and Eulgoio Pelayre.

Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyoyn was also found guilty.

Gingoyon said  he will get his own lawyer to focus on his defense.

At present, he and the and the other co-accused share services of a common lawyer reportedly provided by Garcia.

Gingoyon has been serving the administration of Garcia since 2004. At present, he was among those retained by acting Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale.

Gingoyon said that he did not profit from the Balili purchase. He said that as budget officer he simply signed the documents needed for the purchase of the lot since this is a “regular practice” for transactions.

“Kung pag inspect ana naa ba na sa tubig or sa hangin ang yuta, wala na koy labot ana,” Gingoyon added. “Kung ako pang i-inspection before ko mupirma o kung mukuyog ko ug occular inspection, that is going beyond my (obligations) and functions as budget officer.”

Retired Provincial Assessor Anthony Sususco yesterday went to the Capitol but he declined to answer questions from the media.

Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre was attending to an official business outside the Capitol yesterday.

Cebu Daily News tried to contact former PB Member Juan Bolo but he didn’t answer calls to his cellphone.

In an interview last Sunday, Bolo repeated that he  has not committed any wrongdoing in the Balili lot purchase and that he just  followed orders from  Gov. Garcia.

Bolo, a lawyer, moved to Dapitan City after he lost in the 2010 elections. /Ador Vincent Mayol and Dale G. Israel