Defiant Gwen

Finally Cebu Gov.  Gwen F. Garcia has been suspended from office for six months by the Office of the President after the Department of Interior and Local Government through the late Secretary Jesse Robredo found her  guilty for grave  abuse of authority stemming  from a complaint filed in 2010 by the late Vice Governor Greg Sanchez Jr.

I remember that talk about a suspension circulated after Robredo died in a plane crash  in August.  I was told that part of the documents that the President ordered to be secured in Robredo’s office was the investigation findings in the case of Governor Gwen.

Then in the middle of the year,  I heard reports circulating that the governor would be  suspended for six months , not for the  Balili land purchase case but  the 2010 case filed by the late Vice Governor Sanchez.  At the time, the talk was that the  governor would  be suspended until the end of her term.  She could not return to her position because the suspension would run for that period.

When DILG Regional Director Ananias Villacorta served the suspension order in the Capitol, Garcia  was not yet around.  None of her secretaries accepted the order so the DILG director posted the order on the wall of the office.  Then we went to Vice Gov.  Agnes Magpale and administered her oath  as acting governor.

Suspended Gov.  Gwen Garcia insists that  she is still the governor and chief executive of the Province of Cebu.

The  governor has defied the order from  Malacanang  and remains cloistered in her office at the Capitol while Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale holds office at the Legislative Building.

The DILG has issued an order to the depository banks of the province to recognize only Acting Governot Agnes.  At first, Capitol  department heads refused to heed Magpale’s call for a meeting. After getting an  ultimatum to show up or face charges of insubordination, they attended the meeting with the Acting Governor Agnes on Friday just before the annual Christmas party.

Slowly but surely things are  starting to settle down in the Provincial Capitol with  department heads recognizing Magpale as the new governor in charge.

Meanwhile, Garcia has filed a petition for the issuance of a temporary restraining order  from the Court of Appeals in Manila.  So far, the CA has  not acted on the motion filed by the suspended governor.  Gwen Garcia  continues to defy what she calls an illegal  order.

Provincial  Board Member Julian Daan finally presided over the PB special session  last Friday after initially hesitating.  He hinted that he will take his oath of office as  acting Vice Governor of the Province of Cebu.

So how will this  controversy end?

I believe the two leaders of the Province of Cebu are very reasonable women. They will see the light and eventually  decide to settle  differences among themselves out of love for Cebu.

I see  Acting Governor Agnes Magpale as head the Province of Cebu for the next six  months while Garcia explores all legal  remedies.

God save the people of the Province of Cebu and finally to one and all a Happy Christmas.

* * *

I was happy over the news that Citom chief  Jack Jakosalem is recovering from a debilitating disease and is out of the Intensive Care Unit in a private hospital.

To Jack,  Sharon and their sons, this should be  truly a happy  Christmas because  Daddy Jack  just received the best gift from God, a miracle.