Gwen won't step down

She vowed to continue serving as governor while awaiting a formal response from the DILG.

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“Pending resolution of my query, I have decided to stay put in office and continue to serve as the governor of this great province of ours,” Garcia said.

“This order came just a few days before the election. We are in the thick of a very, shall we say, spirited and, in more colloquial terms, ugly campaign season... It is imperative that the Province of Cebu portrays this picture and impression of order, of resoluteness and firmness. I will not be perturbed," she added.

The six-month suspension order stems from an administrative complaint filed by Moises Garcia Deiparine.

The complaint alleges that Garcia committed grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross negligence, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violated Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The complaint accuses Garcia of issuing Special Permit No. 2024-09 in May 2024 to Shalom Construction, Inc. for desilting activities in the Mananga River, supposedly without securing the necessary Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or Certificate of Non-Coverage from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and without proper consultation with relevant agencies.

GARCIA'S DEFENSE

Garcia defended her actions, saying the issuance of the permit was a decisive response to a worsening water crisis affecting Cebu City and at least seven other local government units during a severe El Niño episode.

She emphasized that the initiative was not unilateral but was done with the approval of the Cebu Provincial Board, which declared a state of calamity at the time, and in coordination with the DENR, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).