UNA: Additional charges vs Cebu guv politically motivated

THE United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said on Tuesday that the reported plan of the Liberal Party (LP) to file 16 cases against Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia only showed that her suspension was part of the administration's campaign to discredit opponents in the May polls.

“Why the sudden downpour of cases against Governor Garcia? We can only assume that a creeping crackdown on the LP’s political rivals is now in full swing,” UNA secretary general Toby Tiangco said.

Garcia is seeking the third congressional district of Cebu under UNA, whose chief leaders include Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

Last week, LP Cebu lawyer Democrito Barcenas said they will charge Garcia before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly using tourist buses owned by the local government during a rally in support of the embattled governor last January 9.

The LP said Garcia should also be indicted for coming out with an alleged illegal memorandum requiring Capitol officials and employees to obey her orders and not those from Acting Governor Agnes Magpale.

Garcia has since brushed off the accusations.

UNA senatorial bet Nancy Binay said, “due process and respect for the rule of law appears to have been set aside by the LP with its plan to deluge Governor Garcia with cases now that the election period has started.”

“There is no other way to see these moves other than being motivated purely by politics,” she said.

Former senator Richard Gordon, who is eyeing to regain his old post, said that from the moment Garcia filed her certificate of candidacy last October, any move against her can be viewed as political.

“She has a sterling record in her service to the people and in her integrity. The people of Cebu, who clearly staunchly support her, should be the judge of her performance and leadership,” Gordon said.

Garcia had repeatedly said her six-month suspension for grave abuse of authority came out because she is not an ally of President Benigno Aquino III, chair of the ruling LP.

She also questioned the timing and merits of her suspension before the Court of Appeals (CA).

Sources said the CA 12th division is expected to come out with a resolution on Garcia's petition for temporary restraining order on the suspension anytime this week. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)