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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Ombudsman clears ex-Cebu governor Gwen of graft charges

Ombudsman clears ex-Cebu governor Gwen of graft charges

Published Oct 22, 2025 08:11 pm
GARCIA (center). (FB)
GARCIA (center). (FB)
CEBU CITY – The Office of the Ombudsman junked the graft charges filed against former Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who was quick to lash back at her accuser.
The anti-graft court found no probable cause to charge Garcia and contractor Anthony James Limchesing with graft over a desilting project.
The issued stemmed from a complaint filed by private citizen Moises Garcia Deiparine, who alleged that Garcia, then the governor of Cebu, granted unwarranted benefits to Shalom Construction Inc., represented by Limchesing, by issuing a special permit for desilting operations in the Mananga River in Talisay City without the necessary environmental clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The Office of the Ombudsman, then headed by Samuel Martires, issued a preventive suspension against Garcia while the complaint was being looked into.
In a resolution promulgated on Aug. 29, the Ombudsman’s Special Panel of Investigators said there was no sufficient evidence to establish any violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The Ombudsman ruled that the complainant “failed to provide evidence sufficient to engender belief in an ordinarily prudent and cautious man that the offense charged has been committed by the respondents.”
The anti-graft court said the allegations lacked both legal and factual basis.
Benjamin Cabrido, Garcia’s legal counsel, said there was no irregularities in the project as the desilting was carried out in good faith as part of emergency measures to address Metro Cebu’s water shortage during the 2024 El Niño dry spell.
The project did not violate environmental laws, Cabrido insisted.
Garcia welcomed the decision.
“I would like to thank the good and decent men and women in the Office of the Ombudsman responsible for this decision. They thoroughly investigated and judiciously decided, steadfastly remaining true to their oaths to respect and uphold the law,” she said.
Garcia described Deiparine as a “hapless pawn used by more powerful forces that were obssessed with politically harming me.”
Garcia, who lost in her reelection bid last May, vowed to bounce back in the next elections.
With the dismissal of the case, Garcia vowed to take counter action against her accuser.
“Now he will have to face the consequences of his misdeed,” she said.

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Ombudsman Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia Graft
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