CEBU CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 22, 2012) – Provincial government employees attended a subdued Christmas party at the Cebu Capitol on Friday amid a leadership standoff between suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and acting Governor Agnes Magpale, state media reported.
The seat of the Cebu provincial government remained under heavy guard by the police following refusal of Garcia to vacate her office.
As its first official act since Magpale was designated as acting governor, the Provincial Board approved Friday a supplemental budget of more than P50 million to cover the employees’ Christmas bonus.
But the bonus, pegged at P30,000 each or one month’s pay, whichever is higher, won’t be released until next week.
Garcia has spent each night in her office since Wednesday. She refused to abide by the government order suspending her for six months as an administrative penalty for a grave abuse of authority case filed by her former Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez.
Garcia’s father, Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia, said the family would stand behind her all the way. ”Be strong. Justice will triumph in the end sooner or later. We hope sooner,” said the congressman, himself a former governor of Cebu.
The Garcias are fielding the governor’s younger brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia, for the gubernatorial race in 2013 mid-term elections.
”I am here. Gwen is here. And of course the family is here to support my daughter,” the elder Garcia said. (PNA)
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