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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider For 'indirect contempt,' Ombudsman orders outgoing Cebu Gov Garcia to pay a fine of P30,000

For 'indirect contempt,' Ombudsman orders outgoing Cebu Gov Garcia to pay a fine of P30,000

Published Jun 13, 2025 02:31 pm

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has found outgoing Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia guilty of indirect contempt and ordered her to pay a fine of P30,000 for her "defiance" against the preventive suspension earlier issued against her.

Earlier, Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires had issued a six-month preventive suspension order against Garcia for the issuance of a quarry permit in a protected area in 2024.

While Garcia "acknowledged" the suspension, Garcia had said that she "respectfully disagree with both the basis and the necessity of this action."

The suspension order even became a heated debate as Garcia accused Martires of politicking, since Martires was an appointee of former president Rodrigo Duterte. This prompted Martires to demand an apology from Garcia.

This time around, Martires decided to implement discipline "with a firm and even hand" and said that he "will no longer tolerate further affronts to this solemn mandate."

"Despite implementation thereof and its immediately executory nature, you (Garcia) have willfully and openly refused to step down from your position as governor," the nine-page order issued on June 10 stated.

Martires said that Garcia's defiance of the April 23 Preventive Suspension Order "is a clear case of resistance and disobedience to the lawful processes of this Office."

"Moreover, your cavalier attitude constitutes improper conduct tending to impede or degrade the administration of justice," the order also stated.

"This action is taken not only to vindicate the dignity and authority of the Office of the Ombudsman, but also to serve as a notice to those who may harbor the same conceit or delusion -- that the Ombudsman's orders can simply be disregarded or treated with impunity," it added.

Martires said that since Garcia adamantly refused to heed the suspension order, her actions have fashioned her into "an icon of defiance, exuding an impression upon the people of Cebu, and the public at large that the governor's office is occupied by an ungovernable autocrat."

He expressed hopes that Garcia's case would serve as a "stern warning" to her lawyers, as officers of the court, that they have sworn to dedicate themselves to the maintenance of the rule of law.

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