President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday called for adherence to due process following the preventive suspension of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, stressing that legal actions against elected officials must follow the rule of law, especially during the election season.
In an official statement, President Marcos emphasized that the proximity of the upcoming elections makes it “vital” to uphold legal procedures and avoid politically motivated actions.
“Any action that affects the mandate of a duly elected official must go through the proper channels and in accordance with the Constitution and the Omnibus Election Code,” he said.
Garcia, a longtime political figure in Cebu, was placed under preventive suspension, though the details and grounds of the case have yet to be fully disclosed to the public.
President Marcos said the governor “deserves to be treated fairly and with the respect owed to her office” while the matter is under legal review.
“Let us not allow politics to get in the way of public service,” the president said.
“We must always be guided by the law, by prudence, and by what is best for the Filipino people,” he added.
Garcia, a member of a prominent political clan in the Visayas, has been a key figure in Cebu’s governance and is widely viewed as a strong regional leader.
The Ombudsman has issued a six-month preventive suspension order, immediately executory, against Garcia following a complaint by Moises Garcia Deiparine.
The complaint alleged that Garcia improperly granted Shalom Construction, Inc. a special permit on May 14, 2024, for desiltation projects in the Mananga River (Talisay City) and Lusaran River (Cebu City), which are part of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape.
The permit was allegedly issued without the required Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) from the DENR, and without prior study or consultation with relevant government agencies.
The petition accuses the governor of grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross negligence, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and breaches of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713).
Garcia’s legal team has filed a legal remedy and submitted a query for clarification to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which is responsible for enforcing the suspension.
For her part, Garcia maintained that her decision was driven purely by her duty to address Cebu’s worsening water shortage, not by any personal gain or ill intent.
She noted that the quarry permit had secured the endorsement of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan along with the approvals of all relevant government bodies.
Furthermore, she said the plan to remove silt from the Mananga River was developed in close coordination with neighboring local government units to ensure proper oversight and community involvement.
