Pablo files complaints versus Magpale, Guial

Rep. Pablo Garcia filed complaints against acting governor Agnes Magpale and acting Provincial Treasurer Emmanuel Guial for withholding checks intended for the Liga ng mga Barangay Malabuyoc Chapter, three barangays and four municipalities amounting to P1.25 million.

Garcia said such actuation of the public officials constitute a violation

of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Officers.

He, however, said that Guial was willing to deliver the checks but Magpale allegedly prevented him from doing so.

Garcia alleged that Magpale's move was politically motivated.

He also said that the amount were from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) deposited as Trust Fund in the account of the Cebu Provincial Government.

Magpale's consultant lawyer Dara Acusar hopes that the issue will be settled and they will look into the purpose for the issuance of the checks.

On the other hand, a watchman of Pragmatic Development Construction Corp. compound filed complaints against Magpale and other officials before the anti- graft office for confiscating the tourist bus that was awarded to the Liga ng mga Barangay Barili Chapter.

In his complaint, Ray Bayno, a resident of Tayong, Barangay Guibuangan, Barili, Cebu alleged that on February 5, 2013, the respondents intimidated and coerced him so they can take the Sinotruck 6758 tourist bus.

"…respondents through threats, display of force intimidation and coercion, feloniously and unlawfully, without authority of law and without valid court order, confederating, conspiring and mutually helping each other, wherein I was compelled to let them confiscate and took custody of the tourist bus against my will," the complaint reads.

Named respondents were Magpale, Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas, head of the

Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) Eva Encabo, chief of Barili Police Station Police Insp. Arvi Arbuis, municipal employees Vicente Villarin, Georgito Alquizola and George Quirante and 16 others.

Bayno said the bus is regularly parked in their compound.

Guibuangan Barangay Captain Nelson Gingoyon is their head watchman and the designated driver and custodian of the bus.

Gingoyon said that he brought the vehicle to the compound for its maintenance check-up and to install the newly repaired wiper motor.

On Feb. 5, 2013 at about 11: 00 a. m., he was accompanying a patient for dialysis in Cebu City, when he received a call from his wife informing him that Encabo, her companions and some armed policemen were looking for him.

At about 3:00 p.m., he received another call from his wife that Encabo and her companions, " upon the directives of Magpale and Mariñas, through threats and display of force", confiscated the bus without the consent of the Liga ng mga Barangay and brought it to the Municipal town hall.

He said he then called Mantalongon Barangay Captain Norman Anore being the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

Gingoyon and Anore executed an affidavit to support the filing of criminal complaints against the respondents for grave coercion, other coercion or unjust vexation, slander by deed and for the crime of carnapping and administrative case for grave misconduct, abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of public officials.-