Gwen is back

CEBU, Philippines - After a six-months suspension and with only 11 days left in her administration, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia assumed office yesterday at the Provincial Capitol.

Ending speculations on whether she would return for the remainder of her third term as Cebu’s first woman governor, Garcia stepped inside her office at 3:55p.m. and immediately sat with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Gerome Gonzales and Atty. Alefa Nogra to discuss her return to office.

Before Garcia showed up at the Capitol, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said in her press conference that she would need to assume again as Acting Governor. This was following the letter written to her by DILG-7 Regional Director Ananias Villacorta informing her that she would need to act as the governor considering Garcia’s absence.

As of press time, it was not sure yet if Garcia was able to file a leave of absence in the office of DILG for the two days that she was not in office.

Villacorta said last Tuesday that they did not receive any notice from Garcia that she would be absent from June 18 to 19. Her suspension ended last June 17, 180 days as indicated in the suspension order that was served last December 19.

Magpale stopped signing documents since last Tuesday because according to her, she was back to her responsibilities as vice governor even without an official memorandum from DILG. She did not want to be sued for usurpation of power for signing documents or making decisions that should be made by Garcia.

Magpale also said that they decided not to open the office of the governor considering that Garcia has not replied to any of their letters and they did not want to break in the office without her representatives. With Garcia’s things still inside her office, Magpale said they did not want to be accused if things are lost inside.

But yesterday morning, Magpale said they received a phone call from the chief of staff of Garcia informing them that they are ready to have the office opened.

Around 9:30 in the morning, the sealed and padlocked office was opened by the Provincial General Service Office along with representatives of Garcia and of the Commission on Audit who later did an inventory.

The office was cleaned immediately in time for the arrival of Garcia who immediately went back to work.

Her staff confirmed that a notice was already sent to department heads that she has reassumed office as of yesterday.

Aside from the representatives of Gov. Garcia, Magpale and Davide, also present when the governor’s office was opened were representatives of the Department of Interior and Local Government and Capitol Site, Cebu City barangay captain Manuel Guanzon representing a third party upon the request of Magpale.

DILG 7 legal officer Aiza Fiel Nogra said that Garcia should send written declaration that she would be returning office with attachment that her suspension was already over.

“She should address that written declaration to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for her to fully assume office,” Nogra said.

Should Garcia return to office, Nogra said that she will head the transition team mandated to turnover documents to the newly elected governor.

Nogra stressed that the DILG memorandum did not indicate a name but only the position of the incumbent official directed to create a transition team.

Davide’s representative, lawyer Joselito Ramon Castillo, told reporters that the governor-elect is already prepared to assume the position and that the impasse at the office of the governor has not affected their preparations.—/JPM (FREEMAN)