In her first public appearance after the elections, outgoing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia bared yesterday that the Court of Appeals (CA) has restrained the Ombudsman from suspending her.
"WHEREFORE, premises considered, the prayer for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order is GRANTED," said CA Associate Justice Marietta S. Brawner-Cualing.
"A Temporary Restraining Order is hereby issued, effective for sixty (60) days from notice, directing the Office of the Ombudsman, through public respondent Hon. Samuel R. Martires, to CEASE from enforcing and implementing the Order dated April 23, 2025 issued in OMB-C-A APR 25-0074, entitled 'Moises Garcia Deiparine v. Gwendolyn F. Garcia' for alleged Gross Abuse of Authority, Gross Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, Gross Negligence, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and Violation of R.A. No. 6713, preventively suspending petitioner GWENDOLYN F. GARCIA," she cited.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Moises Deiparine alleging that 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 (DENR). The special permit was reportedly issued without prior consultations with these agencies.
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 (MCWD).
She said the desilting of the Mananga River was urgently needed to ease the crisis.