Osmeña challenges Gwen to step down

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Sergio Osmeña III challenged suspended Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia yesterday to face the charges against her instead of defying the suspension order of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

“The law is the law. Not all of us will agree with the law. Sometimes we think we are disadvantaged, but you still obey the law,” Osmeña, who is from Cebu, said.

Osmeña also downplayed claims that the graft case against Garcia and the suspension order were political harassment by the Aquino administration. 

He said Garcia should also face charges for  other cases, citing the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Cebu Convention Center. 

“First, the amount is P200 million, then P 300 million and then up to P400 million. Evidence even points to P600 million overprice. These are the cases they should have first filed against her. In the eyes of the public, it would have been a heavy case of corruption,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña also disputed the claim of Garcia’s camp that she still enjoys the support of a majority of her province mates.

The senator said he does not see any problem in Garcia’s continuous stay at the capitol considering that all department heads are following the orders of acting governor Agnes Magpale.   

But he said Garcia’s decision not to leave the city capitol would prevent her from campaigning for congressman of the third district. “She cannot stay in the capitol and campaign for Congress,” he said.