PB OKs appointments of 2 Capitol execs

The Cebu Provincial Board has confirmed the appointments of two department heads whose respective predecessors still have pending motion for reconsideration on their dismissal from service before the Court of Appeals.

The PB has approved the resolutions penned by Board Member Celestino Martinez III confirming the appointments of Dr. Rene Catan as the head of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), and of Jone Siegfred Sepe as the head of the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO).

Also confirmed was the appointment of Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca as the head of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO).

However, CPADAO is a new department created by the provincial government and Meca's appointment is “original.”

A Capitol lawyer who asked for anonymity told The FREEMAN that there would be a legal problem once former PHO chief, Dr. Cristina Giango, and former PGSO chief, Bernard Calderon, will get favorable decision from the appellate court.

Giango and Calderon were among the nine Capitol officials ordered by the Ombudsman dismissed from service for their alleged involvement in the irregularities of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) project, particularly in disregarding the bidding requirements.

Other officials ordered dismissed from service or penalized were former provincial administrator Eduardo Habin; former provincial planning and development officer Adolfo Quiroga; former provincial agriculturist Necias Vicoy Jr; provincial treasurer Roy Salubre; budget officer Emmy Gingoyon; assistant provincial engineer Eulogio Pelayre; and provincial legal officer Marino Martinquilla.

Most of them have since retired from service but are still required to pay a fine equivalent to their one year salary that is being deducted from their retirement benefits, as an alternative penalty.

Former governor, now Cebu third district Representative and Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia was spared from administrative liability after she got reelected in 2007 and 2010.

Under the Aguinaldo doctrine, a public official's reelection extinguishes her administrative liabilities from prior terms.

With a budget of around P800 million, the CICC was built during Garcia's term as governor for the 2007 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

The graft complaint against Garcia and other Capitol officials was lodged in 2012.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales earlier ordered the filing of graft case before the Sandiganbayan against Garcia and the former members of the Capitol's Bids and Awards Committee.