MANILA, Philippines – It’s not every day that a provincial governor is suspended by the President for 6 months.

It becomes all the more an oddity when the suspension happens 5 months before a pivotal mid-term election—against a political rival, in the vote-richest province, and based on a two-year-old administrative offense that, observers say, practically every other governor commits.

So when Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was suspended on December 19, Wednesday, curiosity was piqued online.

The governor claimed that the move was political, contrary to the Aquino administration’s “tuwid na daan” campaign. “The capitol is under siege. This is vote-rich Cebu,” said Garcia, who as of posting has refused to step down. 

Political persecution?

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which has Garcia’s One Cebu party as its member, claimed the suspension was done to weaken rival parties in vote-rich Cebu in time for the elections.

The province of Cebu has the largest voting population in the country. As of 2010, it had 2,434,809 voters.

Cabinet secretaries, who are also Liberal Party members, dismissed UNA’s accusation. Both Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Budget Chief Butch Abad said the evidence will point to the truth.

Rappler held a conversation online to find out what people had to say about the issue:

What are your thoughts on Garcia’s suspension?

Storified by Rappler· Fri, Dec 21 2012 03:12:00