Garcia’s mayor-brod placed under preventive suspension

CEBU, Philippines – The mayor of Dumanjug town, a brother of former governor and now Cebu third district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, has been placed under 60-day preventive suspension pending further investigation into a complaint for alleged usurpation of authority filed against him by his vice mayor.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III issued on Friday the order for the preventive suspension of Mayor Nelson Gamaliel Garcia.

The order was served by provincial legal officer Orvi Ortega. However, Ortega said the mayor was attending graduation exercises in a barangay in Dumanjug when he served the order.

Ortega just left a copy of the order in the mayor’s office and the office of Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica who will assume as acting mayor effective immediately.

Davide said he issued the preventive suspension order based on the facts presented by committee on complaints and investigation of the provincial board.

“I think it was well studied. They have meticulously discussed the issues; they considered the issues and the applicable jurisprudence. Mi-admit pod ko (I also admit) sa akong kaugalingong (in my own) appreciation sa facts sa issues and understanding of the law regarding the preventive suspension, there is really basis,” he told journalists.

Last March 24, the provincial board approved the recommendation of the committee on complaints and investigation chaired by Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy requesting Davide to issue an order preventively suspending Garcia.

The case stemmed from the administrative complaint filed by Gica against Garcia for allegedly encroaching on the vice mayor’s authority to appoint the Sangguniang Bayan secretary.

Garcia, through a memorandum, “designated” a municipal council secretary to take over a position left vacant on June 26 last year.

Gica accused Garcia of encroaching on his authority to make the appointment.

In an interview, Garcia said he was weighing  his options on his next course of action. He said he is considering seeking a temporary restraining order against the preventive suspension order, citing alleged abuse of authority on the part of the governor.

“I have nothing to do with it (order) since it was already signed by the governor. I can only rely on the law,” he said.        – Freeman News Service