Magpale to file cases vs Gwen’s coterminus staff

An internal investigation is underway by the Capitol’s discipline committee while court charges will be filed against at least two co-terminus employees of suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Lawyer Dara Acusar said that “in the next few days,” notices will be sent to the governor’s chief of staff Elizabeth Francia and secretary Amor Sarmiento and five other persons who did not honor the order of Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale to report to her.

“These notices will be about the status of their co-terminus employment…as you know we have asked them to report to Acting Governor Magpale but only one of them complied,” Acuzar told Cebu Daily News.

Acusar said that of the eight co-terminus employees at the Office of the Governor, only Mary Grace Paulino, who handles the tourism program, has reported to Magpale.

“We have studied and our lawyers are also studying the possible criminal charges against them . Until we have properly studied the possible charges, I cannot tell you yet the specific (grounds),” Acuzar added.

Acusar said the court charges will be filed by either the Capitol Codi or the Office of Acting Governor Magpale.

Francia and Sarmiento filed criminal and administrative charges against Magpale, Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin, Acusar, and several police officials for the padlocking of the Governor’s Office last January 30.

Asked if the proposed court charges and investigation by the Codi is an offshoot to the Ombudsman case filed by Francia and Sarmiento, Acusar replied: “The charges that were filed at the Ombudsman are already an indication that there is a trust issue with these co-terminus employees and for sure these have greatly affected that relationship.”

Acusar said that Magpale has also canceled the proposed swapping of co-terminus employees between the Office of the Vice Governor and that of the Office of the Governor primarily because of the coming investigation from the Capitol’s Codi.

The Codi was established by suspended Governor Garcia during her first term to investigate erring employees in the provincial government.

Last January 31, Magpale reorganized the Codi with a new head: lawyer Michel Ligan who was her legal consultant back when she was still a Provincial Board member. Ligan replaced lawyer Lito Astillero, who is a consultant of Governor Garcia.