Outgoing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was found guilty of indirect contempt by the Office of the Ombudsman for defying a preventive suspension order and was fined P30,000.
The suspension stemmed from an administrative probe into her alleged grave abuse of authority for issuing a special permit to Shalom Construction, Inc. without securing required clearances.
Garcia argued that a temporary restraining order allowed her to stay in office, but the Ombudsman ruled that the suspension was immediately executory, meaning she should have stepped down.
The Ombudsman condemned her refusal to comply as disrespectful and a threat to the rule of law.
Garcia maintains the complaint is politically motivated, linked to her previous actions against a quarrying firm, and faces additional charges including gross misconduct and dishonesty.
Source: PhilNews24 | June 14, 2025
