Gwen to attend UNA rally at Capitol, plan town visits

While suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia still has to finalize her visits to Cebu’s towns, she voiced commitment to attend the proclamation rally of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party at the Capitol on Feb. 12.

Garcia met with mayors affiliated with her family’s One Cebu party in her office and discussed the details of the rally. She said committees will be organized for the event.

She reiterated Cebu’s importance as the “single biggest voting bloc” in the country.

“What the Liberal Party has done in Cebu is something that will definitely not be forgotten by the Cebuanos…They abused their powers,” she said.

“I am the symbol of the opposition now… People look at me as one who has courageously stood up against all odds against greater powers to show that we Cebuanos cannot be stepped and trampled on,” she added.

The governor said this amid queries from allies in the province on when she will visit their towns after more than a month of being holed up inside her office at the Capitol.

“Most of us have asked the governor if its possible for her to visit each of our towns. But we are not saying that she has to step down or vacate her office),” Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot said.

Loot said Garcia told them to initially make a schedule of the visits for each towns.

She said Garcia should start her visits on Monday since the people “thirst for her.”

Garcia’s daughter, Christina Codilla-Frasco said Loot’s statements only showed the strong support her mother enjoys in the province. Even if Garcia leaves her office, Frasco said she can still return to it anytime.

“The governor has merely been illegally suspended. She has not been removed from office. Therefore, her right to this office, continues especially considering that a (case) is pending resolution sa Court of Appeals,” she said.

Asked if they will padlock Garcia’s office, her brother and former Capitol security consultant Byron Garcia said there are still people working at her office.

He said they have contingency measures in case Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale decides to close the office but they won’t “telegraph their punches.”

Frasco said their family will hold Magpale criminally liable if she does this since most of the furniture and fixtures in the governor’s office are loaned by Gwen’s brother, former Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) chairman Winston Garcia.

The furniture was there as early as the term of Garcia’s father, former governor and Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia.

“But I’m sure like a loyal soldier, Magpale will follow President Aquino and Interior and Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas who promised that they will not object to Governor Garcia continuing to hold office of the governor,” she added.