INCOMING Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro has accused outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia of wanting to hold office in the legislative building on the Capitol grounds after asking four national agencies to vacate the facility.
Baricuatro said in her Facebook page post Wednesday, June 25, 2025, that Garcia requested Commission on Elections (Comelec), Commission on Audit (COA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to leave the building to make way for the development that Vice Gov.-elect Glenn Soco would like to implement.
"It has come to our attention that the outgoing governor has requested the national offices of COA, Comelec, DAR and DILG to vacate their respective offices in the legislative building, aiming to convert the office under the Office of the Vice Governor," Baricuatro said.
Garcia denied the allegation. "Why? What will I do there? I have my own office, she just doesn't know... I will be tending to my own private businesses. In fact, that will be in Mandaue, so she shouldn't worry because I don't need a free space—I have an office at Oakridge. She is so insecure and ridiculously cheerful," Garcia said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Garcia said the idea originated from Soco's request to restore the building's legislative function. Only DAR pays a rent of up to P1 million monthly. "Vice Gov.-elect Glenn Soco was asking for help to make the legislative building truly for the legislative and for it to have some dignity because it has become a warehouse," she said.
Garcia inspected the building Monday, June 23, and found offices filled with papers and unused items. The agencies agreed to transfer to the Palace of Justice, which is also located within the Capitol compound.
"The aim is really to bring back the dignity of the legislative building because right now, Comelec and especially COA have turned it into a warehouse. They occupy large areas filled only with what COA has—I cannot blame them—all records. My God, if you go inside, you can't breathe. How can one endure the boxes and boxes? When I entered, my asthma flared up," she said.
The Palace of Justice was vacated after the 2013 earthquake and Super Typhoon Yolanda caused cracks.
In 2019, Garcia first expressed an intention to have the old Palace of Justice inspected to determine what should be repaired or renovated so it could be used and opened as offices for agencies and other sectors.
The Palace of Justice used to house regional and lower courts and the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office.
Soco, for his part, said the issue should be resolved through formal channels.
"Any insinuation that these offices are being reassigned for the personal use of outgoing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is entirely baseless and unnecessarily fuels premature speculation and division," Soco said.
No engagement In a Facebook post Thursday, June 26, Baricuatro questioned the decisions being made by the outgoing administration without coordinating with her incoming team, even as she reiterated her openness to work toward unity and cooperation.
Baricuatro said she and her team had reached out in good faith over the past weeks but received no genuine engagement.
She raised concerns over last-minute deals reportedly being made with outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s administration, asking why these were not discussed with the incoming leadership.
Baricuatro also addressed the use of social media to raise the issue, saying it would not have been the preferred platform had there been openness to direct engagement.
“Even so, the door remains open for dialogue and collaboration. Then, now, and in the days ahead,” she said.
Renovation Should the renovation of the legislative building proceed, it will include individual committee conference rooms of a uniform size, a media lounge, and a place for barangay captains, councilors, and other visitors.
Currently, the session hall is being repaired first to provide additional space for new board members at the opening of the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Garcia also found that besides the offices, the building itself has aged since its construction in 1999 and its reported turnover in 2004. She explained that the agreement falls within her term before she steps down on June 30, 2025.
Garcia said the relocation agreement with the national agencies is still under her until her term ends on June 30. After stepping down, she will work from a Mandaue office and return to her businesses.
Following her departure, Garcia will also gradually move her belongings to her office in a large hotel in Mandaue City, where she will return to managing their family businesses, such as the Gwen Garcia Codilla Group Inc., GGC Enterprises in Ormoc City, Leyte, and her other ventures.
Garcia said she does not need to ask for space in the legislative building because she has her own office where she will focus after her failed bid to return to the capitol in the last May 12 election.
"So basically we will have another office. We will move all my furniture and everything to the 8th floor of Oakridge. I can still afford it, you know. It's not like the person she knows, who just wants everything for free and is that tacky.
Excuse me, please." Despite this, Baricuatro emphasized that Garcia's move to relocate national government agencies that serve Cebuanos raises more questions.
"Those offices are occupied by national agencies that are serving our constituents and are rented by the government. It is not acceptable to prioritize your office space at the expense of these agencies and the services they provided," Baricuatro said. / ANV