CEBU CITY — Outgoing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Friday responded to Ombudsman Samuel Martires declaring her guilty of indirect contempt and imposing a fine of P30,000 against her for defying the six-month preventive suspension order issued on April 23.
In an official statement from the Cebu Provincial Capitol Public Information Office (PIO), Garcia said that the Court of Appeals (CA) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the six-month preventive suspension order from the Office of the Ombudsman.
“By citing me for indirect contempt, is Ombudsman Martires now insisting that he does not respect the temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals?” Garcia asked.
On April 29, the governor received a copy of the Order of the Ombudsman dated April 23 preventively suspending her from office for the duration of the administrative adjudication of the OMB Case-C-A-APR-25-0074, but not to exceed six months.
Meanwhile, the transition team of Cebu governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro released a statement reaffirming respect for due process and the remedies afforded under the law in light of the Ombudsman’s ruling.
In a statement from lawyer Edmund Lao, head of Baricuatro’s Transition Committee, the team emphasized that while they acknowledge the Ombudsman’s findings, they trust the legal system to ensure justice through proper channels.
Despite the controversy, Baricuatro remains fully focused on her preparations for the official turnover on June 30. She continues to meet with sectoral leaders and governance experts to ensure that Cebu’s services are uninterrupted, stable, and people-centered.
