CEBU CITY – The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has just lost a key member.
GARCIA (FB)
Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia on Tuesday, May 28, announced that she has submitted her resignation letter to PDP-Laban’s president Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez.
Garcia had been a member of the former ruling party led by former President Rodrigo Duterte since 2016.
The governor said her resignation “took effect immediately.”
In her resignation letter, Garcia stated that “recent events have made it clear that my continued membership is no longer tenable.”
Garcia specifically cited her conflict with suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama here as one of the reasons for her resignation.
“Specifically, the complaint filed against me by Mayor Michael Rama, Vice President for the Visayas, with the Office of the President, has created an irreconcilable conflict,” Garcia said.
Rama filed a complaint against Garcia after the governor issued a cease-and-desist order against the construction of a bus station near the provincial capitol as part of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project.
The governor ordered the stoppage of the construction of the CBRT on portions of the buffer zones of the Cebu provincial capitol and Fuente Osmeña Circle as it may violate the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 10066).
Garcia said the complaint filed by Rama before the Office of the President that called for her suspension questioned her “judgement and integrity.”
“In light of these circumstances, I believe it is in the best interest of both myself and PDP-Laban that I step aside. Upholding my personal and professional values, while avoiding any actions that could be detrimental to the party, is of paramount importance,” Garcia said.
In leaving PDP-Laban, Garcia expressed gratitude to the party.
“Despite this regrettable outcome, I remain grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to PDP-Laban's mission during my time with the party. I wish you and all members continued success in your endeavors,” Garcia said.