ACTING Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale said suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia can dance during the Sinulog festival, not as a governor but as a devotee.
But when asked if Garcia would be allowed to return to her office at the Capitol after the Sinulog, Magpale did not give a straight answer.
“Kung ako lang, titingnan natin (let’s see),” Magpale told reporters.
It has been 24 days since Garcia decided to stay in her office at the Capitol, defying a six-month suspension order from Malacañang.
Garcia earlier said she was seriously considering dancing in the Sinulog grand parade and facing the risks.
“I really hope that I can dance for the ninth and last time together with one contingent coming from our town and this time the Rosquillos festival,” she said in an interview.
TRO
Still, Garcia expressed hope that the Court of Appeals (CA) will grant her petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on her suspension.
The CA heard the moral arguments of Garcia’s lawyers and the Office of the Solicitor General last Thursday, but it has yet to decide on the petition.
Magpale said she will continue to exercise the functions and duties of a governor even if Garcia will continue to stay at the Capitol.
“I’ll be meeting with the PNP and the other agencies. Titingnan po natin di ko pa masasabi ano ang (I can’t say for now what is the) next move,” Magpale said.
Cases
She said she will look into options if Garcia’s presence will hamper transactions at the Capitol.
Lawyer Democrito Barcenas, Liberal Party (LP) Cebu spokesman, said he believes the CA will not grant the TRO as there are no grounds for it.
He said the Capitol is functioning under Magpale, LP’s vice gubernatorial bet in the May elections, so there is nothing to restrain.
Barcenas said they are looking at possible cases to be filed against Garcia.
He said they are considering filing a malversation case for illegal use of Provincial Government property, like the buses and multicabs used during the rally last Wednesday.
Garcia said the vehicles used by residents who joined the rally were covered by trip
permits.
“It’s one thing to file cases. It’s another to be able to see that these cases will fly off the ground,” she said.