CA not issuing TRO sought by suspended Cebu gov

Suspended Cebu Gov Gwen Garcia CDN PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals will no longer issue a temporary restraining order being sought by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia against her suspension by Malacañang.

In a three-age resolution issued Thursday, the appellate court’s 12th Division noted that Garcia has stated that she was abandoning her plea for a TRO, which would last only 60 days. She said she would instead ask for the issuance of a preliminary injunction, which would stop the suspension while the suit is being heard.

“[I]n the interest of justice, and to expedite the disposition of the parties’ dispute, the Court resolves to forgo any ruling on the incident of TRO /status quo ante order,” said the ruling, written by Justice Vicente Veloso.

The appeals court gave Garcia’s camp until Friday to file her reply to the comment of the Office of the Solicitor General which defended the suspension. With or without the reply, the case would be submitted for decision, the court said.

The suspension order stemmed from an administrative suit filed by the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., who accused Garcia of usurpation of authority and cutting the budget of his office.