Guv gets copies of complaints

Garcia said they received the complaint documents from the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, May 2 and have 10 days to file their counter-affidavit.

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Sepulveda added that, based on a document dated April 30, it appears a special panel of investigators was created to look into the governor's case.

"In that order, this is the first time we've received a copy of the complaint," Sepulveda said.

He disclosed that the complaint, based on the date stamp, was filed by Moises Garcia Reiparine on April 21. Just seven days later, on Monday, April 28, they received the suspension order.

Sepulveda noted that the suspension order came without attached copies of the complaints and that it was prepared on April 23—just two days after the complaint was filed—and signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on April 24.

"We've noticed the inordinate interest shown by the person or official handling this case. Just three days after the filing, without any further investigation or intervention, the suspension order for the administrative case had already been signed," Sepulveda said.

Garcia questioned why the complaints were only made available seven days after the order was signed, along with the note that a special panel was created on April 30.

"There was never anyone else involved in investigating the administrative complaint," Garcia said, emphasizing the complaint bears only the signature of Ombudsman Martires.

She pointed out the unusually fast timeline between the filing of the complaint and the issuance of the suspension order.

Sepulveda noted that the criminal case is docketed as No. 73 and the administrative case as No. 74 for the month of April, raising questions about how the latter progressed more swiftly.

CASE LINKED TO DESILTATION NOT QUARRYING

Garcia clarified that the complaint related to the Mananga River pertains to a desiltation effort, not quarrying, and said the Office of the Ombudsman had erroneously likened the activity to violations at the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.