PARTY-LIST group Sanlakas has filed a complaint for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duties against reelectionist Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas, for her alleged failed response to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic that has led to the death of 2,504 individuals in the province.
Teodorico Navea, secretary-general of Sanlakas Party-list Cebu Chapter, led the group in filing the 15-page complaint Monday, Nov. 22, 2021.
Two other complainants were listed as urban poor leaders Celsa Santillan of Mandaue City and Crescito Ditchon of Talisay City, both Provincial Council members of Sanlakas Cebu.
The complaint alleged that Garcia violated Republic Act 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the Administrative Code of 1987.
According to Sanlakas, the governor downplayed and belittled the pandemic, leading the public to believe that Covid-19 is a simple flu, and advocated the use of the scientifically unproven “tuob” or steam inhalation to treat it.
The complainants further argued that Garcia failed to immediately purchase vaccines and conduct aggressive vaccination among her constituents, resulting in a low vaccination rate that prevented the province from reaching a strong herd immunity status.
“To date, the Province of Cebu, even with the staggering amount of public resources that it enjoys has only a vaccination rate of around 20 percent while public education and campaign for vaccination have been very limited,” the complaint read.