NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Ombudsman Slams Gwen Garcia: 'Not The First Time She's Defied The Rule Of Law'
Photo credit: Gov. Gwen Garcia
Ombudsman Samuel Martires isn’t holding back. On Labor Day, he called out suspended Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia for refusing to leave her post despite a preventive suspension order. And according to Martires, this isn’t the first time the governor has ignored the rule of law.
The Ombudsman said they weren’t surprised by Garcia’s decision to stay put. “This is not the first time Gov. Garcia has defied the lawful order and decision of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Martires said, pointing to a previous case when Garcia, then a congresswoman, stayed in office even after she was ordered dismissed over a controversial 2008 property deal involving land that turned out to be underwater.
Fast forward to today, and it seems like history is repeating itself. Garcia has questioned the timing and legality of the suspension, citing supposed violations of COMELEC rules. But Martires found that puzzling—especially since she also turned to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for guidance, despite claiming the suspension process was flawed.
“She’s asking the DILG to interpret COMELEC rules, when only COMELEC can do that,” Martires pointed out.
He also took issue with Garcia’s claim that the Ombudsman can’t implement its own orders, reminding the public that while the DILG and PNP have helped in the past, the Ombudsman decided to stop relying on them after some of its orders were leaked and stalled.
To make things clear, Martires laid out the legal basis for Garcia’s preventive suspension, citing Section 24 of the Ombudsman Act. He stressed that such orders are standard procedure when strong evidence exists and there’s a risk the official could tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.
As for Garcia’s accusation that politics played a role in her suspension—because Martires was appointed by former President Duterte—the Ombudsman didn’t mince words. He said that kind of claim is not only baseless but also offensive to the independence of the office.
“We don’t care who appointed us or what color the accused wears. We follow the law, period,” he said.
Martires closed by saying that the Office of the Ombudsman will continue to uphold justice and fight corruption, no matter who’s involved.
What are your thoughts on Gov. Garcia’s defiance—justified or crossing the line?
The Ombudsman said they weren’t surprised by Garcia’s decision to stay put. “This is not the first time Gov. Garcia has defied the lawful order and decision of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Martires said, pointing to a previous case when Garcia, then a congresswoman, stayed in office even after she was ordered dismissed over a controversial 2008 property deal involving land that turned out to be underwater.
Fast forward to today, and it seems like history is repeating itself. Garcia has questioned the timing and legality of the suspension, citing supposed violations of COMELEC rules. But Martires found that puzzling—especially since she also turned to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for guidance, despite claiming the suspension process was flawed.
“She’s asking the DILG to interpret COMELEC rules, when only COMELEC can do that,” Martires pointed out.
He also took issue with Garcia’s claim that the Ombudsman can’t implement its own orders, reminding the public that while the DILG and PNP have helped in the past, the Ombudsman decided to stop relying on them after some of its orders were leaked and stalled.
To make things clear, Martires laid out the legal basis for Garcia’s preventive suspension, citing Section 24 of the Ombudsman Act. He stressed that such orders are standard procedure when strong evidence exists and there’s a risk the official could tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.
As for Garcia’s accusation that politics played a role in her suspension—because Martires was appointed by former President Duterte—the Ombudsman didn’t mince words. He said that kind of claim is not only baseless but also offensive to the independence of the office.
“We don’t care who appointed us or what color the accused wears. We follow the law, period,” he said.
Martires closed by saying that the Office of the Ombudsman will continue to uphold justice and fight corruption, no matter who’s involved.
What are your thoughts on Gov. Garcia’s defiance—justified or crossing the line?
May 2, 2025
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
