CEBU Gov. Hilario Davide III said congresswoman and gubernatorial candidate Gwendolyn Garcia has no business meddling in his administration’s affairs, especially since she is not a provincial official.
This, after Representative Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) wrote a letter to the Provincial Board (PB), presided by Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, telling them to “proceed with caution” in approving the P1.5-billion Cebu Provincial Resource Center project because the Province had yet to submit to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines a new development plan on the proposed resource center within the Provincial Capitol compound.
“Now she’s interested because she’s running for governor,” Davide said in Cebuano. “That’s exactly what she did before; that was her action last time. She just decided on her own without consulting the PB. Of course, she’s just politicking,” Davide said, referring to the backfilling of the Balili property in the City of Naga, which did not have an approved contract from the PB.
But Garcia, in a separate interview, said it is her “duty” to question the current administration’s transactions, especially if it concerns heritage laws.
Davide believes that Garcia is questioning the project as a way to mobilize her campaign. He added that Garcia should focus on answering the issues against her during her time as governor rather than focus on derailing the 20-story project.
Earlier, Magpale dismissed Garcia’s letter, saying it reeks of politics. Magpale and Garcia will face off in the gubernatorial race next year.
But Garcia said that like any Cebuano, she has every right to meddle in Davide’s administration.
“Every Cebuano has 100 percent business in intervening when heritage laws will be violated. More so for me, as former governor, during whose time the Capitol was declared a national historical landmark. I feel that it is my duty to point out the construction of a ‘Torre ni Davide’ right beside the Capitol would destroy the heritage environment...” Garcia said. From AZLG of Superbalita Cebu / JKV