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Thursday, July 01, 2004
Gwen Garcia proclaimed Cebu governor
By Jeanette P. Malinao
CEBU CITY -- Nearly six hours after her father's term ended, Gwendolyn Garcia was proclaimed the first female governor of Cebu Province at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday.
"This is history in the making. As much as I am part of it, so are all Cebuanos," said the 48-year-old former Capitol consultant, who defeated former congressman Celestino "Junie" Martinez Jr. by 7,529 votes.
"This battle has been hard-fought and hard-won. I hope that each and everyone of us will now accept the people's will. It's time to move on. I hope they will move on with us," added Garcia, eldest daughter of three-term Cebu governor Pablo Garcia.
Provincial Election Supervisor Edwin Cadungog had to parry threats and defy a verbal order as he went ahead with the canvassing and proclamation.
Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez, the rival candidate's wife, called up Cadungog at 1 p.m. and threatened to sue if he went on with the proceedings.
Around 2 p.m., no less than Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos called up Cadungog and, according to the election officer, warned him not to proceed with the proclamation.
Abalos declined to comment Wednesday afternoon.
"Proceed at your own risk," Cadungog quoted the Comelec chairman as saying.
Other members of the canvassing board decided, however, to take the risk along with Cadungog, which finally led to the proclamation of winners more than seven weeks since the election.
Questions over legalities thrown at him by lawyers of both Garcia and Martinez tested Cadungog's patience and mettle.
"They can file the election protest at the proper forum and they can file criminal cases against us," Cadungog said, drawing applause from everyone at the canvassing area.
Garcia took her oath of office around 8 Tuesday night before Vice President Noli de Castro, with her family and some supporters in attendance.
Garcia earned 405,852 votes against Martinez's 398,323 votes.
Martinez refused to answer questions from Sun.Star when reached on the phone Tuesday night.
The proclamation ended the stalemate that started last May 16, when both parties elevated the issue to the Comelec First Division.
The division issued an order for the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) to continue its proceedings last Tuesday, but it later issued another order saying the matter is already with the Comelec en banc.
But the Comelec en banc issued Resolution 7257 last Tuesday, which considers all pending pre-proclamation controversies as terminated when the new term started
Wednesday noon.
The resolution also orders the PBOC to reconvene, resume canvassing and proclaim all winners.
This was Cadungog's basis in refusing outright Abalos' order for him to "terminate" the proceedings Wednesday.
Lawyer Oliveros Kintanar, representing Provincial Board members allied with Martinez, used the verbal order from Abalos to move for the suspension of the proceedings, but this met a "vehement objection" from Garcia's lawyer and brother, Pablo John.
Both Pablo and Gwendolyn commended the courage of Cadungog and the PBOC members.
The former governor will remain in the Capitol as consultant to his daughter.
"Let us set aside and put the past behind us and work together, because (Martinez's) district is still part of Cebu," said Pablo.
(July 1, 2004 issue)
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