Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has been placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman over her issuance of a special permit to a firm last year.
The suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by Moises Garcia Deiparine who accused the governor of grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, serious dishonesty and other administrative violations under Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
According to the complaint, Garcia granted a special permit to Shalom Construction Inc. on 14 May 2024 without first securing the necessary Environmental Compliance Certificate or Certificate of Non-Coverage from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The special permit was reportedly issued without prior consultations with these agencies.
The suspension order, signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires and dated 21 April, was docketed as OMB-C-A-April-25-0074.
In a statement, Garcia confirmed her suspension.
“I respect the processes of the law, but I must respectfully disagree with both the basis and the necessity for this action,” she said.
Garcia explained that she issued the special permit in response to the worsening water shortage that had gripped Metro Cebu and surrounding areas under the Metropolitan Cebu Water District. She said the desilting of the Mananga River was urgently needed to ease the crisis.
“My legal team is already taking the necessary steps to challenge this preventive suspension through the proper legal channels,” she said. “I have full faith that truth and justice will prevail.”
Garcia emphasized her decision was made in consultation with local government units and environmental agencies, including the DENR, Environmental Management Bureau and Mines and Geosciences Bureau.