Palace to respect TRO on Cebu governor’s suspension

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang assured the camp of suspended Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia that the Aquino administration would comply with a temporary restraining order (TRO) if the Court of Appeals issue such a relief.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also denied that the administrative sanction against Garcia was politically motivated.

He said justices of the appellate court will surely discuss the petition that Garcia filed when they resume work this week, and will consider the points raised by the Office of the Solicitor General who represents the Office of the President.

As far as the government is concerned, the decision of Aquino imposing a six-month suspension on Garcia is final and executory and could therefore not be restrained by any freeze order.

Malacañang also reminded Vice President Jejomar Binay that it was President Aquino, and not Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who issued the suspension order against Garcia.

Lacierda issued the statement to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) camp of Binay, former president Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who accused Roxas, a Liberal Party leader, of political harassment.

“Let me remind our good friends in UNA that Secretary Mar Roxas merely implemented the order of the suspension that was issued by the Office of the President,” he said.

Roxas lost to Binay in the May 2010 vice presidential elections. Roxas filed an electoral protest that is now pending. – With Aurea Calica