Ilang linggo bago ang eleksyon, sinuspinde ng Office of the Ombudsman si Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia ng anim na buwan dahil sa umano'y "alleged grave abuse of authority," bunga ng inilabas na special permit sa isang construction company nang walang legal na basehan.
Sa mensahe sa mga mamamahayag, inihayag ng Ombudsman na isinilbi kay Garcia ang suspension order nitong Lunes, April 28, o 14 araw bago ang May 12 midterm elections.
Tumatakbo si Garcia para sa kaniyang ikatlong termino bilang gobernador ng Cebu.
Batay sa reklamo ng isang Moises Deiparine, binigyan umano ni Garcia ng special permit ang Shalom Construction, Inc. noong May 14, 2024 kahit walang Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) o Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC), na mula sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), o walang naunang study/consultation sa ibang kinauukulang ahensiya ng gobyerno.
Isa ang Cebu sa mga lalawigan na may pinakamaraming botante na umaabot sa 3.4 milyon.
Samantala, inihayag ni Garcia na iaapela nila ang suspension order. Ipinaliwanag nito ang pangangailangan na maglabas ng kinukuwestiyong special permit upang kaagad na matugunan ang problema sa critical water shortage na nakakaapekto sa buong franchise area ng Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) na sumasakop sa Cebu City at ilan pang local government units.
“I must respectfully disagree with both the basis and the necessity of this action. All decisions [such as the issuance of the special permit] were undertaken in close collaboration with the affected local government units, as well as with the government agencies tasked to regulate environmental matters—namely, the DENR, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB),” ayon sa gobernador.
“My legal team is already taking the necessary steps to challenge this preventive suspension through the proper legal channels. I have full faith that truth and justice will prevail,” dagdag niya.
Idinagdag ni Garcia na ang paglalabas ng special permit sa Shalom Construction, Inc. ay aprubado ng Provincial Board, na naunang nagdeklara sa buoang lalawigan ng Cebu na nasa state of calamity dahil sa acute water shortage.
“Only by desilting the Mananga River could the situation be immediately alleviated and the water crisis addressed. There was no personal interest or malice involved—only a deep sense of responsibility to act swiftly in the face of the growing burden and suffering of the Cebuanos due to the dwindling water supply, not to mention the potential health hazards caused by the unavailability of clean water,” paliwanag ni Garcia.
Idinagdag ni Garcia na hindi rin siya nabigyan ng notice of the complaint upang maipaliwanag ang kaniyang panig.
“We will allow the facts—not political motivations—to speak for themselves. To the people of Cebu: please be assured that my commitment to serve you remains steadfast,” sabi ni Garcia. — mula sa ulat ni Llanesca T. Panti/FRJ, GMA Integrated News
