Camille Naredo

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during the 36th Joint Meeting of the United Nations Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on June 28, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during the 36th Joint Meeting of the United Nations Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on June 28, 2024. The meeting will cover topics, including the presentation of the UN Tourism Programme of Work for 2024-2025, discussions related to the UN Tourism Asia-Pacific Member States, preparations for World Tourism Day 2024, and strategies for implementing and prioritizing sustainable tourism, with emphasis on green tourism and education. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MARCOS-CEBU

Annie Perez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174591443066420240628-un-tourism-pbbm-2MD_7104 (1)-MD.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during the 36th Joint Meeting of the United Nations Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on June 28, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/>Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during the 36th Joint Meeting of the United Nations Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on June 28, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</div>CEBU CITY — The  Office of the Ombudsman on Monday ordered the preventive suspension for six months of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who is facing multiple complaints in relation to a construction project in the province.The full document is not yet released, as well as the circumstance for the complaint, which is in relation with the desilting of the Mananga River in Carmen town.Garcia is facing complaints for Grave Abuse of Authority, Gross Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, Gross Negligence, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.The Ombudsman cited that Garcia issued a special permit to a construction company “without an environmental compliance certificate nor a certificate of non-convergence” which are documents issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.Garcia, for her part, acknowledged the preventive suspension through a statement coursed through the provincial media arm.“I respect the processes of the law, but I must respectfully disagree with both the basis and the necessity of this action,” wrote Garcia.<div> </div><div>GARCIA EXPLAINS </div>Garcia explained that the issuance of the Special Permit in question was “driven solely by the urgent need to address the critical water shortage that had severely affected the entire franchise area of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), which includes Cebu City and seven other local government units.”“All decisions were undertaken in close collaboration with the affected local government units, as well as with the government agencies tasked to regulate environmental matters,” Garcia added.The Governor also made clear that her action was carried out with the proper approval of the Provincial Board, which had earlier declared the entire Province of Cebu under a state of calamity due to the acute water shortage.“Only by desilting the Mananga River could the situation be immediately alleviated and the water crisis addressed,” she also said.Garcia insisted that there was no personal interest or malice involved in her decision.She also said that her camp was not given notice of the complaint and was unable to respond to the accusations.At present, her legal team is taking the necessary steps to challenge the Ombudsman order while she continues her campaign for reelection.

Garcia, for her part, acknowledged the preventive suspension through a statement coursed through the provincial media arm.

Garcia, for her part, acknowledged the preventive suspension through a statement coursed through the provincial media arm.

Cebu governor Gwen Garcia preventively suspended

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Cebu governor Gwen Garcia preventively suspended

Annie Perez,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 29, 2025 04:15 PM PHT

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Updated April 29, 2025 06:57 PM PHT

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