Ombudsman: Cebu gov guilty of indirect contempt for defying suspension order
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia (Photo from Gov. Gwen Garcia FB page)
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has found Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia guilty of indirect contempt, after she refused to heed the preventive suspension issued against her.
Documents released by the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday showed Ombudsman Samuel Martires signing the order, which also imposes a fine of P30,000 against Garcia.
Last April, the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that an order to suspend Garcia for a maximum of six months preventively was issued, to allow investigators to start their probe of the allegedly anomalous permit she granted to a construction firm that had no environment clearance.
Despite this, Garcia repeatedly said that she is not stepping down despite the preventive suspension order.
According to Garcia, she was not defying the Ombudsman’s order but was following the advice of her lawyers to remain in office since the order was issued during the election period that banned any suspension of officials without approval from the Commission on Elections.
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Martires, however, believes Garcia’s actions “disrupt the orderly administration of justice and infringe upon the constitutionally entrenched powers of the Ombudsman.”
“Indeed, your contemptuous refusal to comply with the Preventive Suspension Order disrupts the orderly administration of justice and infringes upon the constitutionally entrenched powers of the Ombudsman. As well, your failure to comply with the Preventive Suspension Order constitutes disrespect and insubordination, plain and simple,” Martires said in the order dated June 10.
“This behavior undermines not only the integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman, but more grievously, the very rule of law itself. As the head of the Provincial Government of Cebu, you are expected to lead by example and serve as a role model of accountability and lawful conduct to your constituents,” he added.
Last May, Garcia — who lost in her reelection bid during the 2025 midterm elections — said that she will be able to complete her term in office up to the end of June, after she secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) that stopped the Office of the Ombudsman from carrying out her six-month preventive suspension.
A resolution from the Court of Appeals (CA) Special 17th Division in Manila dated May 15 granted a 60-day TRO that would allow Garcia to officially end her term at noon on June 30.
