Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has ordered the dismissal of House Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia from service over her questionable purchase of a P98.9-million Balili property when she was the governor of Cebu. ADVERTISEMENTIn June 2008, Garcia purchased the Balili property – a 249,246-square meter lot located in Tinaan, Naga in Cebu for P98,926,800. Local authorities, however, later discovered that 196,696 square meters of the property were underwater and part of a mangrove area. Based on the records, the provincial government released a total of P24,468,927.66 to the winning contractor. “She failed to point out the specific provision in the appropriation ordinance which supposedly authorized her to enter into the contract,” it added.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 12, 2018 04:23 UTC