LP-Cebu to file charges vs. suspended gov Garcia

The Cebu chapter of the ruling Liberal Party will file administrative and criminal charges against suspended Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia for her continued refusal to vacate her post. A report on GMA News TV's “News To Go” on Monday said the 16 charges of grave misconduct and malversation of public funds being drafted will be based on Garcia's alleged use of provincial buses and government vehicles to transport her supporters to her prayer rallies on December 19, 2012 and January 9, 2013. The report said LP-Cebu spokesperson, lawyer Democrito Barcenas, saw the buses go to the provincial capitol. LP vice chairman Feliciano Belmonte, however, said the party's national executive council has nothing to do with the filing of charges against Garcia. "I have no idea. We are not at all involved in the matter. [We] just get our information  from the media," Belmonte said in a text message to GMA News Online. Garcia reportedly denied the allegation, saying the buses have trip tickets and its passengers went to the capitol for their respective transactions. Despite the six-month suspension, Garcia remains holed up at the capitol as she waits for the decision of the Court of Appeals on her petition seeking a temporary restraining order on the suspension. Malacañang issued the suspension order against Garcia last December. Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, sister of Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, took over as the province's acting governor. The suspension stemmed from an administrative case filed by the late former vice governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., who accused Garcia of committing acts of usurpation, including the hiring of employees, consultants and slashing the budget of the Office of the Vice Governor. Garcia claimed that the suspension order was politically-motivated, accusing the LP — the political group of President Benigno Aquino III — of trying to control the vote-rich province in time for the elections in May. The LP hasy denied this. While she supported Aquino in 2010, Garcia is a member of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay. The UNA has openly supported her in her fight against the suspension. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News