In January, the Office of the Ombudsman found Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia administratively liable over the P24.47-million project to backfill submerged portions of the controversial P98-million Balili property in Barangay Tinaan, Naga City, without the authority from the provincial board while she was Cebu governor.
Garcia was penalized with dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
By that time, however, Garcia was no longer governor and was already a representative of the third congressional district of Cebu province. She was also serving as House deputy speaker.
Then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez did not implement the order, saying it was a violation of the Constitution.
Garcia filed a petition for review in the Court of Appeals (CA) and for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO). The CA denied the petition for a TRO. Garcia filed a motion for reconsideration. —INQUIRER VISAYAS