Gwen traumatized in 2012 standoff

CEBU, Philippines — While she is thankful for the police escorts the Police Regional Office-7 is giving her, Governor Cebu Gwendolyn Garcia said she never had any problem not having a security detail.

"I’m not very keen on people following me around pero it comes with the position… naay mga risgo involved… so I'm thankful for the security detail (I’m not very keen on people following me around but it comes with the position… there are risks involved… so I’m thankful for the security detail)," Garcia said.

PRO-7 will assign two escorts for the returning governor.

Garcia revealed yesterday this is the first time in six years that she will have a security detail. She did not ask for police escorts when she was congresswoman following the events in 2012 that left her traumatized.

She said she was traumatized when cops stormed the Capitol “to manifest a show of force” against her when the Office of the President suspended her from service.

"I had so much trauma during the time when this virtually became a garrison, when General (Marcelo) Garbo then sent a legion to secure, but actually to manifest a show of force against me," Garcia said.

It was then Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. who signed the six-month suspension order against Garcia for grave abuse of authority in connection with the charges filed against her by the late vice governor Greg Sanchez.

Sanchez had accused Garcia of diverting the province’s budget for anomalous contracts but the Supreme Court later cleared Garcia from charges. — JMO (FREEMAN)