“There is no martial law however they want to picture it that way,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing, reacting to the United Nationalist Alliance's (UNA) staement regarding a Liberal Party-led martial law in the province.
“This is a free and democratic country.”
“If you go to Cebu, you will see that the people can freely go around their business and the martial law is only in the minds of those who mounted that particular propaganda. It’s all propaganda,” Lacierda added.
Garcia was suspended following an administrative case lodged by the late Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., who accused her of committing acts of usurpation, including the hiring of employees, consultants and slashing the budget of the Office of the Vice Governor.
Garcia, an UNA member, has refused to step down and recognize acting governor Anges Magpale’s authority.
Her supporters from UNA—including Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former President Joseph Estrada—flew to Cebu last Sunday to personally express their support.
Blame Mar
Garcia and her allies are blaming Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for her suspension, saying Roxas, a party-mate of the president, just wanted to control the vote-rich province in time for the 2013 midterm elections.
But Lacierda reiterated that Roxas was merely implementing the suspension order handed down by President Benigno Aquino III.
“The business of governance continues in the province of Cebu. And let me remind our good friends in UNA that Secretary Mar Roxas merely implemented the order of the suspension that was issued by the Office of the President,” he said.
Garcia and her family have already brought the issue to the courts, filing a criminal case for robbery and other offenses against Roxas and several local police officials regarding the alleged robbery of tents outside the provincial capitol.
Lacierda doubted the case would prosper.
“Everyone knows that a criminal offense is committed personally,” he said.
“Unless they have proof that Secretary Mar Roxas was present in Cebu stealing those tents, I doubt if the case will prosper against Secretary Roxas.”
Preferential treatment
Garcia’s camp also accused the administration of giving preferential treatment to Liberal Party members, citing the case of former Isabela governor and now poll commissioner Grace Padaca, who has a standing arrest warrant but was personally accompanied by Roxas to post bail before the Sandiganbayan.
Lacierda denied any collusion, citing Padaca’s readiness to be arrested as proof.
“Just to be clear, before she (Padaca) was appointed as Comelec commissioner, meron siyang naka-standby na bag. She was prepared to be arrested anytime.”
Lacierda also refuted Estrada’s claim that Garcia’s suspension during the Christmas season was “un-Christian.”
“It so happened that it was implemented near the holiday season but that is purely coincidental,” he said. —KBK, GMA News
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