Palace belittles robbery charges

CEBU, Philippines - Malacañang likewise belittled the robbery charges that the son of suspended Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia filed against Roxas, saying such charges will not hold water anyway.

Garcia’s son Pablo III filed charges against Roxas and several police officials after they refused to return three tents that were seized from demonstrators supporting the suspended governor at the Cebu capitol.

“Everyone knows that a criminal offense is committed personally. Unless they have proof that Secretary Mar was present in Cebu stealing those tents, I doubt if the case will prosper,” declared Lacierda.

Garcia’s supporters used the tents during a vigil at the capitol.

Police dispersed the demonstrators and confiscated the tents.

The younger Garcia said the provincial capitol does not own the tents.

Apart from Roxas, charges were also filed against Region 7 police director Garbo, Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, head of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB), and Inspector Alvino Enguito.

The tents were installed on Dec. 18 in front of the provincial capitol to be used for the Mass and prayer vigil. The younger Garcia said he rented the tents from Sheentrade Marketing for P2,600 each per day.

Lacierda also defended the administrative sanction imposed by President Aquino against Garcia.

“Let us remember that there was an administrative complaint filed against the governor. The decision was issued and the DILG only implemented it. It so happened that it was implemented near the holiday season but that is purely coincidental,” he explained.

Lacierda clarified that there is no harassment involved in Garcia’s case, as interpreted by former president Estrada, who also belongs to UNA. Estrada described the timing of the order as “un-Christian.”

Palace insiders revealed though that the original recommendation for suspending Garcia was 60 days, but that this was upgraded to six months, and that Roxas’ camp allegedly chose from among three pending administrative complaints and picked the easiest one. — Philippine Star News Service (FREEMAN)