CEBU CITY – Tension between outgoing Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and her successor Pamela Baricuatro continued to heat up with only a few days left before the turnover of power at the Capitol.

The latest conflict between the two arose when Baricuatro announced that Garcia had ordered government offices housed in the Capitol's legislative building to vacate.

Baricuatro alleged that the offices that will be vacated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Commission on Elections (Comelec), Commission on Audit (COA), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be used by Garcia for her personal office.

Baricuatro criticized the supposed order, saying that having the government offices in the building is beneficial to the public. 

“These agencies are renting space within the building, and their presence ensures that vital government services remain close and accessible to the public,” she said. “Removing them could cause serious inconvenience to citizens and undermine government functions.

Garcia denied Baricuatro’s allegations.

“Wow, anha gyud ko mag office? Di intawon ko ingon ana ka cheap uy (Wow, I would really have my office there? I’m not that cheap),” Garcia said.

Garcia said she already has a private office in a commercial building in Mandaue  City.

Baricuatro shot back at Garcia.

“If you already have an office at the eighth floor of Oakridge, your interest in taking over government offices in the legislative building raises questions,” Baricuatro said.

Incoming Vice Gov.-elect Glenn Soco defended Garcia, her runningmate in the recent elections, from the issue.

Soco said the relocation of the government offices “is being undertaken in response to the urgent operational and spatial needs of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.”

“Any insinuation that these offices are being reassigned for the personal use of outgoing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is entirely baseless and unnecessarily fuels premature speculation and division,” Soco said.