Rama’s complaint cited as reason: Gwen leaves PDP

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia has resigned as member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) effective immediately, in a May 28 letter addressed to party president Palawan Second District Representative Jose Alvarez.

“Please accept this letter as formal notification of my resignation as a member of PDP-Laban, effective immediately,” the governor wrote.

In her one-page resignation letter, Garcia said that recent events have made it clear that her continued membership is “no longer tenable.”

Specifically, she said the complaint filed against her at the Office of the President by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, the PDP vice president for the Visayas, has created an “irreconcilable conflict.”

She said that Rama’s complaint, stemming from her efforts to safeguard the Cebu Provincial Capitol building as a cultural heritage through a duly issued memorandum, put into question her judgment and integrity.

“While I am confident in the legality and ethical soundness of my actions, the resulting situation, including Mayor Rama's call for my suspension, has made continued association with the party untenable,” the governor said.

That is why, she said, she believes it is to her and PDP’s best interest that she stepped aside.

“Upholding my personal and professional values, while avoiding any actions that could be detrimental to the party, is of paramount importance. The current situation has unfortunately created an environment where my continued membership would be inimical to both the party and myself,” Garcia said.

She further said that despite this “regrettable outcome”, she “remains grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to PDP-Laban's mission during her time with the party as she wishes the party president and all members continued success in their endeavors”.

To recall, Rama has asked the Office of the President last March to suspend Garcia, in connection with the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project.

Rama filed an administrative complaint alleging that the governor committed abuse of authority, oppression, and grave misconduct as well as graft and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, when she issued a memorandum to stop civil works of the CBRT.

Garcia’s camp had argued that the memorandum was simply “an act as a steward of the properties of Cebu province.”

The Cebu Provincial Board and the League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Cebu have issued separate resolutions to stop the project, saying it was not authorized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Last April 19, during the PDP National Council Meeting and its 42nd Anniversary celebration at Nustar Hotel and Casino in Cebu City, when it was decided that the group drop the name “Laban” from the original “PDP-Laban” name, Rama was the only Cebu mayor who joined.

To recall “One Cebu”, which Garcia founded, aligned with PDP in 2016 when Rodrigo Duterte run for and won as the country’s president.

In the 2022 elections, One Cebu supported the Uniteam of now President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and now Vice President Sara Duterte. — (FREEMAN)