Sereno lawyer: CJ has no hand in Ombudsman’s dismissal order vs. Garcia

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has nothing to do with the Ombudsman's dismissal order against Cebu Representative Gwendolyn Garcia, said a lawyer for the top magistrate on Wednesday.

In a statement, Sereno lawyer and spokesperson Jojo Lacanilao took exception to Garcia's remark that her dismissal was connected to her "active" participation in the impeachment proceeding against the Chief Justice, calling the claim "bereft of truth and wisdom."

"To set the record straight, the Chief Justice has nothing to do with the Ombudsman’s decision," he said.

"It is unfortunate that Rep. Garcia is using the ongoing impeachment hearing as an excuse, albeit shallow, for her dismissal from government service and perpetual disqualification from public office rather than check the laws of the land on graft and corruption," he added.

Garcia, also House deputy speaker, is part of the House justice committee, which has been holding several hearing sessions to determine if there is probable cause in the impeachment complaint of lawyer Lorenzo Gadon against Sereno.

The Ombudsman on Monday ordered Garcia's dismissal from government service for grave misconduct in connection with the purchase of a property worth P98.9 million for Cebu’s human settlement and seaport project in 2008.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said the then-governor had no authority from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan when she entered into an agreement with a construction firm for a human settlement and seaport project.

In response, Garcia questioned the timing of the move, saying the "Ombudsman has singled me out on an act that was done when I was still governor several years ago."

"You'd rather wonder whether this was purposely done precisely because as you saw, I am very active in this impeachment hearing against Chief Justice [Maria Lourdes] Sereno," she said.

Lacanilao said Garcia's claim that she was singled out by the Ombudsman was "totally untrue."

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he will not implement the order citing lack of "legal basis."

Sereno's lawyer said that Alvarez's refusal to implement the Ombudsman's order against Garcia was a "real tragedy."

Lacanilao said Garcia "seems to be enjoying the special treatment" of Alvarez.

He maintained that the Office of the Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body which is mandated to "check on wrongdoings of government officials," and that it "has its own processes and...makes decisions free from outside control or influence." —ALG, GMA News