Crossfire
Two days after the end of her six-month suspension, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is back with a vengeance.
Those who thought the final days of her term would see a mellow, humbled political leader will have to eat their words.
With a little over one week to wrap up her term at the Capitol, one of Garcia’s first official acts was to fire Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin, the longest-serving career official in the bureaucracy.
His offense?
Not standing by her when the Office of the President issued a six-month suspension last December 2012. Habin didn’t resign with the rest of her “loyal” aides, whom she has brought back to the Capitol for her last days as governor until June 30.
The last nail of Habin’s “disloyalty” was carrying out the order of Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale to lock up the Governor’s Office on Jan. 30, an operation that effectively cut short Garcia’s dramatic defiance when she turned the Capitol’s east wing into a political barracks and living quarters for four weeks, through Christmas, the New Year and the Sinulog.
Getting caught in the crossfire of political tensions is a valid concern of provincial employees, supervisors and other lesser mortals in the Capitol.
The transition to a new administration in June 30 can seem a far way off, if Garcia continues to hunt down those she believes were disloyal.
How much disruption can an end-stage governor cause in seven working days?
Garcia made it a point to reverse some appointments of Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale. Marivic Garces is back as Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head, a trusted executive who sat in the bids and awards committee.
Who else of the current staff will be changed?
Yesterday, Garcia announced that she would cancel the leaves of department heads who made a timely getaway before her return to power.
As professional civil servants tasked to carry out different functions of government, these officials should not be made targets of revenge or forced to be pawns of political games.
While Habin, who had retired years earlier and enjoyed an extended term based on the trust of the governor and her father , former Governor Pablo Garcia, his value should be seen objectively as service to the province, not as a personal allegiance.
Other department heads enjoy tenure and can’t be removed easily without valid cause.
In the meantime, those who remain within Garcia’s sphere of influence are duty bound to follow the governor’s orders.
Only valid orders and instructions that redound to public interest.
