CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia should be treated “fairly” while legal questions regarding her suspension remain unresolved, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday.
This comes after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered Garcia’s six-month preventive suspension without pay over alleged grave abuse of authority.
The case involves the issuance of a special permit to Shalom Construction Inc. in May 2024 without securing the necessary clearances from relevant government agencies.
“I have been made aware of the preventive suspension issued against Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu,” Marcos said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.
“Governor Garcia has served Cebu with strength and consistency. Until all legal questions surrounding this suspension are resolved, she deserves to be treated fairly and with the respect owed to her office,” he added.
Marcos stressed that any action affecting the mandate of an elected official must be in accordance with the Constitution and the Omnibus Election Code, and must follow proper legal procedures.
“Let me be clear: in a time like this—so close to the elections—it is vital that we uphold the rule of law and observe due process,” he said. “We must always be guided by the law, by prudence, and by what is best for the Filipino people.”
Garcia, who is seeking a third consecutive term as Cebu governor, has defied the suspension order, questioning its legality amid the election period.
She also raised concerns over the timing of the order, which was issued just days before the May 2025 polls.
