Jamaine Punzalan

Cebu Representative Gwendolyn Garcia during the house hearing on the probable cause of impeachment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on February 27, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Annie Perez

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177371124562120180227-sereno-impeachment-house-md2_9759.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia attends a House hearing, Feb. 27, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The Court of Appeals has reversed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman that found Governor Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia guilty of misconduct. </p><p>The Ombudsman initially penalized Garcia with a fine equivalent to her 6-month salary or <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/14/ex-cebu-governor-gwen-garcia-fined-p1-2-million-over-desilting-permit-1403">P1.2 million</a> for approving a permit in connection with the desilting of the Mananga River in May 2024, during the height of the water shortage in Cebu due to the El Niño. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/6/13/ex-cebu-gov-garcia-fined-for-defying-ombudsman-suspension-order-1359">Gwen Garcia fined for defying Ombudsman suspension order</a></div><p>But the Court of Appeals ruled that the former governor was exercising her emergency powers.</p><p>“The petitioner is vested with the power to carry out emergency measures during, and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters,” Associate Justice Raymond Lauigan wrote in the decision.</p><p>The court also found the lack of corrupt intent from Garcia. </p><p>“Unfortunately for respondent, there is no shred of evidence to prove that the issuance of the Special Permit was wrongful, improper, or unlawful,” added Lauigan. </p><p>The validity of the issued permit was also upheld.</p><p>With this, the Court of Appeals ordered the exoneration of Garcia from the charges.</p><p>“We won on this case, fair and square,” Garcia’s lawyer Ben Cabrido said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><iframe width="1128" height="635" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2TDG2U-Qu2Q" title="Ombudsman issues show cause order vs Gwen Garcia | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1128" height="635" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7KkK0jWI6gw" title="Cebu governor Gwen Garcia: I have TRO vs. Ombudsman suspension from Court of Appeals | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Court of Appeals has reversed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman that found Governor Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia guilty of misconduct.</p>

The Court of Appeals has reversed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman that found Governor Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia guilty of misconduct.

CA clears ex-Cebu governor Garcia of misconduct charges

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CA clears ex-Cebu governor Garcia of misconduct charges

Annie Perez

Published March 17, 2026 09:36 AM PHT

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