THE SANDIGANBAYAN Second Division has denied the motion for reconsideration of Cebu 3rd District Rep. Gwendolyn F. Garcia seeking the dismissal of her anti-graft case over the controversial purchase of the Balili property in Naga, Cebu. Associate Justice Lorifel L. Pahimna, in denying the motion, cited that Ms. Garcia’s arguments were mere repetition of her motion to dismiss. “Applying the foregoing and without being too repetitious, this court finds that there is clearly no violation of movant’s constitutional right to speedy disposition of her cases as the time it took the Ombudsman to complete the investigation and the time the plaintiff has prosecuted the instant cases before this court can hardly be considered an unreasonable and arbitrary delay,” read the resolution dated Jan. 22. Ms. Garcia, who is running for Cebu City mayor in May, along with several others are facing violations of Section 3(e) and 3(g) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as amended; and violation of Article 220 (illegal use of public funds or property) of the Revised Penal Code. In 2008, the Cebu provincial government, which was then headed by Ms. Garcia, purchased the Balili property with 249,246 square meters consisting of 11 parcels of land situated in Tinaan, Naga City for almost P99 million. It was later discovered that 196,696 square meters of the property were underwater and part of a mangrove area. — The Freeman

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR