Pam calls out Gwen for 'making transition process unnecessarily difficult'

Local

CEBU Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro on Friday, May 30, called out outgoing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for allegedly delaying the turnover of critical documents needed for a smooth transition of power.

She warned that such moves undermine public service and hurt the people of Cebu.

“Gwen, you are not hurting me, you are hurting the people of the province of Cebu,” Baricuatro said in a press conference, expressing frustration over Garcia’s reported refusal to allow early access to financial and administrative records.

Baricuatro said the delayed release of these documents, set for June 30, the same day she assumes office, robs her administration of the time needed to review, prepare, and ensure continuity in government operations.

“My priority is effective governance since I received an overwhelming 1.1 million mandate. However, the actions of the outgoing administration and the provincial DILG are making this process unnecessarily difficult,” she said.

During the press conference, Baricuatro was joined by her transition team head Atty. Edmund Lao: Former Sta. Fe Mayor Titing Esgana, Finance expert; and Atty. Guiller Ceniza, Legal Team.

The incoming governor said Garcia has also barred her team from meeting with department heads before the turnover date.

For her, this is a move that will hinder the new administration from hitting the ground running.

Baricuatro raised concerns that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cebu Province, tasked to serve as an impartial facilitator, may have compromised its role by acting as vice chair of Garcia’s transition team.

“The DILG must be independent and above local chief executives to ensure a fair and orderly handover,” Baricuatro added, criticizing what she described as the agency's passive stance in the face of Garcia’s control over transition proceedings.

In a letter dated May 30, Baricuatro’s camp formally requested Garcia’s office to release essential documents by June 15 and allow personal meetings with department heads between June 16 and 30.

“We firmly believe that this request is consistent with the General Welfare Clause of the Local Government Code and the intent of the DILG’s own circular,” said in a letter written by transition team head Lao.

Lao warned that a June 30-only turnover, without earlier access to key officials and information, would deprive the incoming administration of the ability to plan and make informed decisions, affecting urgent public services.

Additionally, Esgana said that once they receive the documents from the Garcia camp, the first thing they will verify is whether the papers came from the finance committee.

“This is the scenario: if their intended obstruction and delay tactics push through until June 30, can the people afford to wait? It would be understandable if this involved only a town or a city, but this is a province," he said.

He further warned that such delays could disrupt the delivery of services or potentially derail or postpone the release of payables.

Meanwhile, Baricuatro said that if the lack of cooperation continues, they are ready to elevate the matter to the DILG regional or even central office.

“Worst case scenario, as a people's governor, I will go to the people. Pwede gyud kaayo ko mag-rally atubangan sa Kapitolyo,” she said.

“And just for information, wala ko magdali og lingkod kay kahibalo ko June 30 pagyud, ang akoa lang naay continuity sa atong serbisyo sa katawhan," she added.

Baricuatro concluded with an appeal to Cebuanos to stay vigilant during the transition.

“Mga Sugbuanon, bantayan nato ang atong Kapitolyo kay kamo ang Sugbo," she said.(MyTVCebu)