Gwen says office inventory not needed

SUSPENDED Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia questioned the inventory conducted by the General Services Office (GSO) at the governor’s office.

In an interview last Sunday, Garcia said the inventory is unnecessary as she is still the governor of the province.

“If I am indeed a suspended governor, I’m still the governor. What do they need an inventory for? Are they going to take away the things that were supposedly issued to me with a valid memorandum receipt (MR)?” she told reporters.

She explained that the MR for the government properties issued her as governor expires only when her term as governor ends in June 2013.

Do we have someone already proclaiming herself as the newly installed governor? The last time I remember she was running for vice governor. And there hasn’t been an election yet,” she said taking potshot at Acting Governor Agnes Magpale.

Meanwhile, the GSO cannot complete the  inventory since they have not yet opened the main office of Garcia.

GSO head Eva Encabo said they don’t have the key to the office.

The inventory begun after Garcia was locked out of her office while visiting Oslob town in January.

She was holed up in her Capitol office for 42 days starting  Dec. 19, 2012, the day her six-month suspension from Malacanang was served.

Earlier, Acting Governor Magpale said that she will transfer to the governor’s office only after the inventory is completed.

She also said Acting Vice Gov. Julian “Teban” Daan will be using her office at the vice governor’s office.

Daan is still staying in his office at the 3rd floor of the legislative building.

He said he has no plans yet of transferring office.

Some of the staff of suspended Governor Garcia are now with him.

Daan, an ally of the suspended governor succeeded Magpale’s position as vice governor when Garcia was meted the suspension for usurping the authority of the office of the vice governor, then held by the late Gregorio Sanchez Jr.

Magpale herself became vice governor in May 2011 by succession as the number 1 Provincial Board member. /Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondent