NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Ombudsman Warns Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia: 'Explain Why You're Still In Office'
Photo credit: Gov. Gwen Garcia
It’s getting hotter in Cebu politics—and it’s not because of the weather.
The Office of the Ombudsman has just dropped a show cause order on Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, demanding that she explain why she continues to defy her preventive suspension order issued back on April 23, 2025. Simply put, the Ombudsman is asking: “Why are you still in office?”
The governor reportedly received the suspension order on April 29, which, according to the Ombudsman, should’ve taken effect immediately. But instead of stepping aside, Garcia has publicly declared she’s not going anywhere—literally. She’s still in the Capitol, doing her duties as governor.
Now, the Ombudsman is asking her to respond within five days and explain why she shouldn’t be held in indirect contempt for continuing to serve despite the suspension. The suspension was meant to last during the administrative case proceedings, but no more than six months.
But that’s not all.
DILG Undersecretary Rolando Puno also got his own show cause order. Why? He allegedly said in a press briefing that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) “will not act” on the Ombudsman’s suspension order. That statement didn’t sit well with the Ombudsman, who clearly sees this as undermining their authority.
With both Garcia and Puno now facing potential contempt charges, this standoff is shaping up to be a major legal and political tug-of-war. Whether the governor will step down—or dig in even further—remains to be seen.
The Office of the Ombudsman has just dropped a show cause order on Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, demanding that she explain why she continues to defy her preventive suspension order issued back on April 23, 2025. Simply put, the Ombudsman is asking: “Why are you still in office?”
The governor reportedly received the suspension order on April 29, which, according to the Ombudsman, should’ve taken effect immediately. But instead of stepping aside, Garcia has publicly declared she’s not going anywhere—literally. She’s still in the Capitol, doing her duties as governor.
Now, the Ombudsman is asking her to respond within five days and explain why she shouldn’t be held in indirect contempt for continuing to serve despite the suspension. The suspension was meant to last during the administrative case proceedings, but no more than six months.
But that’s not all.
DILG Undersecretary Rolando Puno also got his own show cause order. Why? He allegedly said in a press briefing that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) “will not act” on the Ombudsman’s suspension order. That statement didn’t sit well with the Ombudsman, who clearly sees this as undermining their authority.
With both Garcia and Puno now facing potential contempt charges, this standoff is shaping up to be a major legal and political tug-of-war. Whether the governor will step down—or dig in even further—remains to be seen.
May 22, 2025
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