Gwendolyn Garcia returns as Cebu’s governor

MANILA, Philippines – Cebu 3rd district representative Gwendolyn Garcia returns as the province’s governor, beating incumbent Vice Governor Agnes Magpale. 

As of 4:28 pm on Thursday, May 16, Garcia garnered 887,290 votes, surpassing her rivals Magpale, who had 598,567, and Roliveth Cortes, with 30,499 votes.

This is Garcia’s third time as Cebu governor after serving two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2013.

Days before the May 13 elections, the Court of Appeals reversed the Ombudsman’s January 2018 order dismissing Garcia from service and barring her from seeking public office for grave misconduct. This was in connection with her involvement in the purchase of the sprawling Balili property in Naga City.

Supporting the Ombudsman’s decision, the Sandiganbayan had affirmed the graft and technical malversation charges against Garcia. Then-House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, however, did not dismiss Garcia, who also served as the deputy speaker. 

“[The] authority [of voters] cannot be thwarted by an illegal suspension order issued by the powers that be. Because you elected this governor… not once, not twice, but three times. You state your belief and confidence in me. That was your authority,” Garcia said during her proclamation speech.

Garcia, whose gubernatorial bid was backed by President Rodrigo Duterte, ran on a platform of ending corruption, criminality, and drugs. She is also part of presidential daughter Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Magpale ran under the Nationalist People’s Coalition. – Rappler.com

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