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

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174625519139120240628-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"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">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. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Friday told suspended Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia to respond to the cases filed against her in the Ombudsman&#x27;s office.</p><p>In a statement, Martires said Garcia should file a counter-affidavit in a complaint regarding grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross negligence, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service as well as for the violation of Section 3 (e) of the  Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. </p><p>&quot;It should be clear by now to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and to everyone that the preventive suspension order that was issued in the administrative case arose from, or is in relation to, the criminal case for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019,&quot; said Martires. </p><p>&quot;Any violation of any of the Sections of Republic Act 3019 must, in the corresponding administrative case, be classified or denominated either as grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross negligence, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service or any of the offenses defined under the Civil Service Law,&quot; he added. </p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman earlier slapped a six-month suspension against the re-electionist Cebu governor for allowing the issuance of a permit to a construction company despite the absence of an environmental compliance certificate. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/29/cebu-governor-gwen-garcia-preventively-suspended-1615">READ: Cebu governor Gwen Garcia preventively suspended</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/5/1/ombudsman-blasts-cebu-gov-garcia-s-defiance-of-preventive-suspension-order-2044">READ: Ombudsman blasts Cebu Gov. Garcia’s defiance of preventive suspension order</a></div><p>The Cebu official however had refused to step down as she questioned the timing of the suspension order, which was a mere two weeks before the midterm polls.</p><p>Garcia earlier explained that the issuance of the Special Permit in question was &quot;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.&quot;</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; Garcia added.</p><p>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.</p><p>Martires earlier criticized the governor for staying in office despite the preventive suspension order, saying he was &quot;not surprised&quot; as she had done this before.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VOzhwyuIRUs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Friday told suspended Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia to respond to the cases filed against her in the Ombudsman's office.</p>

Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Friday told suspended Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia to respond to the cases filed against her in the Ombudsman's office.

Ombudsman tells suspended Gov. Garcia to file counter-affidavit

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Ombudsman tells suspended Gov. Garcia to file counter-affidavit

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 03, 2025 02:55 PM PHT

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