It’s a no-show for Gwen

CEBU, Philippines - Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia did not show up at the Capitol yesterday, the day she was expected to return to office after her six-month suspension.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 Regional Director Ananias Villacorta said Garcia should be back in office yesterday as she has not filed a leave of absence.

Garcia was suspended effective December 19 last year and the order indicated a suspension of 180 days.

Considering that February only has 28 days, Garcia's suspension ended last Monday, June 17.

Villacorta said he did not receive any request for a leave of absence from Garcia although he still has to check at their Central Office if the governor filed her leave of absence there.

If she did, the request needs to be approved by DILG Secretary Mar Roxas.

However, Villacorta explained that if there was no leave filed, Garcia would be considered absent without official leave (AWOL), which could be viewed as dereliction of duty.

Villacorta said Garcia has the option not to return to Capitol but she has to file a leave of absence for the remaining days of her term as governor, which is until noon of June 30.

Yesterday, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale stopped signing documents that need the signature of the governor saying she is back to her duties as vice governor. 

She said if she continues to sign on behalf of the governor, she might be accused of usurpation.

She said she will only assume again as acting governor as soon as Garcia files a leave of absence.

 "I presumed that she will be coming back," said Magpale.

She added that they wrote Garcia about the opening of the Governor's Office, which is still padlocked until now.

The letter was sent to Garcia's house but was not received by the guard.

This prompted them to just mail the letter.

Magpale said they have decided to wait for governor-elect Hilario "Junjun" Davide's term to start before opening the Governor's Office.

Garcia has not turned over the key to her main office since she left Capitol last January.

Magpale said they do not want  to force open the main office since Garcia's things are still inside. 

Yesterday, Magpale said she ordered that the old conference room in the executive building be cleaned so Davide would be able to use it momentarily when his term starts on July 1./MBG (FREEMAN)