President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has weighed in on the preventive suspension of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, calling for fairness and respect as legal proceedings continue.
In a statement on Thursday, Marcos highlighted the importance of upholding due process, especially with the upcoming elections on May 12. He stressed that any action affecting an elected official’s mandate must follow constitutional procedures and the guidelines set by the Omnibus Election Code.
“Governor Garcia has served Cebu with strength and consistency,” Marcos said, noting that while the suspension is under review, she “deserves to be treated fairly and with the respect owed to her office.”
He also underscored the need to separate politics from governance, stating that decisions must be rooted in law and guided by what benefits the public.
The statement comes after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered a six-month suspension against Garcia to allow an investigation into her issuance of a special permit to Shalom Construction Inc. The construction firm was reportedly allowed to operate without an environmental compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Garcia, who is seeking reelection, is accused of bypassing regulatory requirements when she approved the project in May 2024.
