To dance or not to dance Garcia to announce decision on Monday

CEBU, Philippines - Suspended Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will announce tomorrow, Monday, if she will go on dancing for the Sinulog Grand Festival on January 20.

Garcia has danced in the past eight years and has expressed her intention to dance again this year but her dancing in the Grand Parade might cost her her ground at the Capitol which she had been fighting for in the past few weeks following the six months suspension meted against her by the Office of the President for abuse of authority.

Garcia refused to step down and have locked herself in her Capitol office while questioning the suspension order before the Court of Appeals. Garcia’s dancing the Sinulog might give acting Governor Agnes Magpale the opportunity to order the police to padlock her office.

Yesterday, Garcia watched from afar the contingents for the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan converging at the Capitol grounds.

Garcia waved to the contingents from the cities of Naga, Talisay, Carcar, Toledo, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, and Bogo and the municipalities of Cordova and Tuburan.

Garcia said that she was thankful to at least see the contingents even without personally witnessing them dance at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

Instead of starting their dance on the streets, some of the contingents opted to dance within the Capitol grounds for Garcia to witness.

Garcia earlier said that she is seriously contemplating to dance during the Sinulog given that it would be her 9th and last time to dance as the governor of the province. But her situation right now made her think twice unless she would be able to get a Temporary Restraining Order between now and Sunday.

Magpale said that Garcia is free to dance during the Sinulog as long as she would not represent the Province of Cebu.

If Garcia would decide to dance, she would be with the Rosquillos Festival contingent of the municipality of Lilo-an. Garcia said that she is very grateful for the number of people who approached her from the municipalities and told her that were praying for her.

Garcia said that she was filled with gratitude for those who said that even their young children were praying for her to get back to her position as Governor of Cebu. —FPL (FREEMAN)