(June 13, 2025) – The Office of the Ombudsman has found outgoing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia guilty of indirect contempt for refusing to follow its preventive suspension order.
In a document released on Friday, Ombudsman Samuel Martires described Garcia’s defiance as an “affront” to the office’s authority and ordered her to pay a fine of P30,000.
“Despite implementation thereof and its immediately executory nature, you have willfully and openly refused to step down from your position as Governor. Thus, with the firm and even hand, the Ombudsman will no longer tolerate further affronts to this solemn mandate,” read the copy of the order.
The case stemmed from Garcia’s approval of a special quarry permit for desilting operations in the Mananga River, a part of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape, without clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Complainant Moises Deiparine accused the governor of “grave abuse of authority” and violating Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Garcia, however, said she approved the permit to help address water shortages during the El Niño season.
The Ombudsman issued the preventive suspension order last April, saying the move was meant to allow a fair investigation into the alleged irregularities in the permit’s approval. The suspension was set for a maximum of six months.
Garcia repeatedly refused to vacate her post, insisting that the suspension order was issued during the election period. She said her lawyers advised her that under the law, suspending elected officials during that time requires prior approval from the Commission on Elections.
On May 15, the Court of Appeals’ Special 17th Division in Manila granted Garcia’s request for a 60-day temporary restraining order, allowing her to finish her term, which ends at noon on June 30.
“By citing me for indirect contempt, is Ombudsman Martires insisting now that he does not respect the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Court of Appeals?” asked Garcia in a statement.
Garcia ran for reelection in this year’s midterm polls but lost. She was endorsed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
(With a report from John Aroa, News5 correspondent)
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