BARICUATRO (FB)
CEBU CITY – Byron Garcia is not done taking legal actions against Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro.
Garcia, the brother of former Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, on Friday, Dec. 5, filed another complaint against Baricuatro over the P2.6-million renovation of the governor’s office.
Byron asked the Office of the Ombudsman to initiate criminal proceedings against Baricuatro for alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
In his complaint, Byron said Baricuatro allocated P2,633,698.43 for the governor’s office’s renovation, which included the demolition of ceilings, roofs, and walls.
After the bidding, the project was awarded to Emiliano Tadeo D. Ruiz Jr., proprietor of Ten Twenty Allied Developers, at a contract price of P2,612,888.00.
Attached in his complaint were several documents such as Program of Works, Invitation to Bid, BAC Resolution No. 25-005, Obligation Request, Indorsement, draft Contract Agreement, draft Notice to Proceed, and Schedule of Procurement Activity.
Garcia said the Cebu Provincial Capitol is a Status I National Historical Landmark under NHCP Resolution No. 11, Series of 2008.
Any modifications require prior clearance from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) through the Heritage, Site, and Structure Development Committee (HSSDC), Byron said.
He cited Section 48(b) of Republic Act 10066, which prohibits altering declared national landmarks without the Commission’s written permission, including within the five-meter security buffer zone.
The complaint also invoked Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of RA 3019, arguing that awarding the contract without the mandatory heritage clearance gave an unwarranted benefit to the contractor and was manifestly disadvantageous to the government.
Byron insisted that Baricuatro should be held criminally and administratively liable.
He had earlier filed a complaint against Baricuatro for supposedly wearing a Special Weapons and Tactics uniform in a photo that the governor posted on social media.
Baricuatro has clarified that the photo that he was referring to was an artificial intelligence generated-image.
Byron also sued Baricuatro for also announcing that the province has already procured a sea ambulance.
He accused Baricuatro of issuing “false and misleading” after it was discovered that no sea ambulance has been procured yet by the provincial government.