Magpale to testify vs. Gwen on Balili property purchase

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale was summoned by the Sandiganbayan to testify against former Cebu governor and Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia on the alleged illegal purchase of the controversial Balili Property in 2009.

The Sandiganbayan is set to organize a case conference in Cebu before the end of this month to gather additional evidence.

Magpale said on Monday, Nov. 19, that upon receipt of the subpoena from the Sandiganbayan on Nov. 5, she immediately flew to Manila for the preliminary conference on Nov. 12 and 13.

Magpale said the Sandiganbayan prosecutors will be in Cebu to look for additional evidence, particularly from those who were involved in the transaction that led to the sale of the Balili property.

Among those to be summoned to provide additional testimony are the provincial treasurer, accountant and budget officers.

“I don’t know unsay kahinatnan niini (where this will end up). Ako, I’m just doing my job. I was asked to testify and I will testify,” Magpale said.

Magpale and Garcia will be running against each in next year’s gubernatorial race.

But for Garcia, she hopes that Magpale would tell the Sandiganbayan her own involvement in the purchase of the controversial property.

“It will be an opportunity for her to truthfully testify that, as a Provincial Board member then, she was one of those who gave me the authority to purchase the Balili property. In effect, she too approved of the purchase,” Garcia told Sun-Star Cebu in a text message yesterday.

In 2012, then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales charged Garcia before the Sandiganbayan with two counts of graft and technical malversation in relation to the purchase of the 24.92-hectare Balili Property in Barangay Tina-an, City of Naga.

Aside from Garcia, also charged were members of the Provincial Appraisal Committee, including former Provincial Board member John Bolo, former Provincial Assessor Anthony Sususco, Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre and former Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre.