President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has backed Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who was placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman for six months without pay due to alleged grave abuse of authority.

According to the Ombudsman, Garcia granted a special permit to a construction company in May 2024 without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to respond to the water shortage in the province.

The Cebu governor said she will appeal the suspension imposed on her.

In a statement, Marcos said he was made aware of the preventive suspension issued against Garcia.

Stressing the importance of upholding the rule of law, particularly at a time when the election is drawing closer, Marcos said due process must still be observed.

“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.

He also emphasized Garcia’s contribution to Cebu as a public servant.

“Governor Garcia has served Cebu with strength and consistency. Until all legal questions surrounding this suspension are resolved, she deserves to be treated fairly with the respect owed to her office,” he noted.

He added that politics should not get in the way of public service: “We must always be guided by the law, by prudence, and by what is best for the Filipino people.”

Aside from being a close ally to Marcos, Garcia is an influential figure in the vote-rich province of Cebu, home to more than three million voters.