Bataan capitol back to normal
By Greg Refraccion
Central Luzon Desk
First Posted 21:08:00 11/20/2008
Filed Under: Local authorities, Conflicts (general)
BALANGA CITY, Philippines—Everything was back to normal at the provincial capitol here on Thursday after the Supreme Court granted Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia's petition for a temporary restraining order against his suspension by the Ombudsman.
Garcia met with supporters and provincial capitol employees on Wednesday to break the news and to explain the TRO which gave Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno 10 days to comment.
Garcia announced over the microphone in Filipino: "God is really good because he heard our prayers and granted us the TRO."
"If the Supreme Court issues TRO, it's effective until the case is settled," he said.
His supporters who gathered around him repeatedly shouted "Mabuhay si Governor."
The Supreme Court issued the indefinite TRO against the October 28 order by the Ombudsman suspending Garcia and three other provincial officials for six months. The DILG was tasked to enforce the suspension.
Their suspension stemmed from the provincial government's takeover of an allegedly tax delinquent paper plant in Orani town.
Garcia thanked Vice Governor Serafin Roman, who, he said, had sacrificed so much in the name of peace and unity.
The vice governor also thanked his supporters for keeping peace throughout the crisis.
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