Malacañang said it would not interfere in the preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia. However, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized on Thursday that Garcia, a known ally of the administration, “deserves to be treated fairly and with the respect owed to her office.”
“Hindi po gagawin ng Pangulo iyon,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Malacañang briefing.
Castro cited and stressed the President’s statement calling to adhere to due process and law on the matter.
“So, susunod po tayo kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas at kung ano po ang procedure na dapat gawin. Siguro maaari po itong i-avail ni Governor Gwen Garcia at kung ito naman po ay naaayon sa batas ay dapat pong tuparin,” she continued.
The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia for six months for approving a construction permit despite the lack of an Environmental Compliance Certificate.
Garcia, however, has refused to vacate her post, questioning the timing of the suspension, which came just two weeks ahead of the midterm elections.
