NEW GUARDIANS

15/09/2024

Cebu’s Shame: Gwen Garcia’s Arrogance Crushed by Supreme Court Over Unpaid Debts

By OPTIC Politics —Editorial

The Supreme Court's recent decision has decisively punctured Gwendolyn Garcia's long-running charade of power and influence, leaving her public image—and her ego—shattered. For too long, Garcia has indulged in a fantasy of invulnerability, strutting around Cebu in a self-styled fashionista persona, masking her arrogant and superior attitude beneath a facade of style and entitlement. Now, that illusion has come crashing down, as the highest court of the land ruled against her in a case that clearly exposes her financial irresponsibility and legal maneuvers to avoid accountability.

Garcia’s refusal to settle her staggering $700,000 debt to HSBC, coupled with her failed attempts to delay the inevitable through one dilatory petition after another, reveals a woman desperate to cling to power by any means necessary. Her attempts to dodge responsibility, stretching over a decade, have been met with the full force of justice—justice that the people of Cebu have long awaited.

Businessmen who once filled her campaign coffers for One Ceb* must now be laughing at her predicament. Garcia, once viewed as an untouchable political force, is now exposed as little more than a debtor trying to outrun her obligations. The business community, which once saw her as a promising ally, now watches as her credibility crumbles. Her arrogance in believing she could indefinitely stall the ex*****on of the court’s judgment is emblematic of her misplaced superiority—a dangerous attitude that has worn thin on the patience of Cebuanos.

The Supreme Court’s ruling is as clear as it is damning. Garcia has spent years abusing the legal system, filing frivolous petitions that had no basis in fact or law, all in the hope of avoiding a debt she owes. The court was unambiguous: the issuance of the alias writ of ex*****on is ministerial—there was no need for further hearings, no need for Garcia to once again stall the inevitable. Her claims that the writ was improperly served, or that she should have been allowed to participate in the computation of the debt, were swiftly dismissed as the desperate attempts of a cornered politician.

To add insult to injury, Garcia’s argument that the debt should have been forwarded to her business, GGC, rather than her personally, fell flat. It’s a transparent attempt to shirk personal responsibility and pass off her financial failings as a mere business issue—something the Supreme Court saw right through. Her arrogance knows no bounds; she seems to believe that the rules simply do not apply to her, and that her political clout can shield her from personal accountability.

Cebuanos, meanwhile, are fed up. The once-respected governor now stands exposed as a leader who, rather than serving her constituents, is more focused on protecting her personal wealth and reputation. Her superior, elitist attitude has alienated many, and the cracks in her political armor are widening. Cebuanos are no longer charmed by her trying-hard attempts to project herself as an influential, fashionable leader. Instead, they see a politician who is increasingly out of touch with the people she claims to represent, someone who prioritizes her own interests over the needs of her province.

This Supreme Court decision is not just a legal defeat; it’s a moral reckoning for Gwendolyn Garcia. She has squandered the goodwill of her supporters, betrayed the trust of the business community, and disillusioned the very people she once claimed to champion. Her fall from grace is a cautionary tale for any politician who believes they are above the law—a clear reminder that no amount of legal maneuvering can indefinitely protect the guilty from facing the consequences of their actions.

The people of Cebu deserve better than a leader who dodges responsibility, flouts the law, and clings to an outdated sense of superiority. With this ruling, the Supreme Court has not only ended Garcia’s arrogance but has also sent a clear message: accountability cannot be delayed forever. See less

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Global Affairs Thinker. I don’t report—I dissect, expose, and challenge. No newsroom. No leash. Just raw analysis and fearless commentary on power, corruption, and global games. If it stings, it’s probably true.

28/08/2024

RECOMMENDATION APPROVED BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Classes in public schools and work in government agencies within the National Capital Region (NCR) are suspended effective 7:00AM August 28, 2024, due to the effects of Southwest Monsoon.

10/08/2024

Pas DeFlower daghang below 18 moattend sa coming summer youth camp.

26/12/2023

Soldiers recover CNT guns in Talaingod as CPP marks anniv


TALAINGOD, Davao del Norte - Soldiers of the 56th Infantry Battalion (56IB) recovered an arms cache buried by Communist NPA Terrorists (CNT) in the hinterlands of Talaingod, Davao del Norte, Tuesday, December 26, 2023.

A platoon of soldiers from Bravo Company, 56IB led by Cpt Marlou Salido and accompanied by former rebels unearthed the high powered fi****ms in Sitio Nalubas, Brgy Palma Gil in Talaingod.

Troops recovered one Bushmaster M4 Assault Rifle bearing Serial Number: L172522, one C**t M4 Assault Rifle with Serial Number: 223007, three long magazine assemblies; and 96 rounds of Cal. 5.56mm ammunition.

Former rebels revealed that CNT members buried the weapons as excess fi****ms following successive encounters and massive surrender of red fighters that resulted to shortage of manpower to handle the said fi****ms.

Meanwhile in a separate but related effort of soldiers, two CNT members on lie-low status surrendered to 56IB on Christmas eve. Soldiers were having their "boodlefight" in celebration of the coming Christmas when the husband and wife duo together with their small children arrived accompanied by operating troops who negotiated their surrender. The newly surrendered tandem and their children were immediately invited by soldiers to join and eat with them. Alias Samuel and alias Genna surrendered one cal.38 revolver with two ammunition and one improvised explosive device fashioned as anti personnel landmine weighing four kilos.

Brig. Gen. Marion Angcao, the Brigade Commander of 1003rd Infantry Brigade covering the area said, "The recovery of CNT fi****ms by soldiers came as the Communist Party of the Philippines is supposed to be celebrating its anniversary. This shows the futility of their failed ideology as more and more of their members now find the true light and discover the deception done to them".

"We call on the remaining CNT to go back in the fold of the law while they can. Our troops will be relentless in pursuing the remnants of this lawless group", Brig. Gen Angcao added.

Brig. Gen. Allan Hambala, the Commander of 10th Infantry Division lauded the efforts of soldiers in keeping the C**s at bay as he also encouraged the latter to pursue peaceful path to change.

"We take pleasure in knowing that our citizens continue to be safe due to the diligence of our soldiers in making communities secure and away from harm. It is our fervent hope that our long lost brothers and sisters who are still in the mountains heed the call of the people for them to lay down their arms, pursue peaceful means, be productive members of the society and enjoy being with their respective families especially in times like this when we celebrate Christmas" Brig. Gen. Hambala concluded.

Authorities expect that more war materiel will be unearthed in the coming days as revelations of former rebels indicate the possibility of these being buried by lie-low C**s.

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06/09/2023

NTF-ELCAC MEDIA BUREAU

September 4, 2023

‘We joined NTF-ELCAC to help the people’ — CBCP exec


An executive of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday appealed to the public to be more “prudent” on issuing statements against the group’s decision to join the Executive Committee of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), stressing that any collaboration with the government is done with the sole intention “to help the people.”

“We meant well sa aming engagement na ito. We’re allowing ourselves to be a member of the NTF-ELCAC in good faith… Sa pagiging member namin dito sa NTF-ELCAC, we’re provided with a platform for the betterment of the people in the country,” said Rev. Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs (ECPA) of the CBCP.

Fr. Secillano is also the alternate representative for Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista also from ECPA.

Speaking during the weekly TAGGED RELOADED press conference organized by the NTF-ELCAC Media Bureau, Secillano clarified that only the ECPA and “not the whole CBCP” would be the point of convergence for the Task Force because the commission's mandate is to deal with issues and concerns on public and private matters that affect the Church.

“We don’t want to be myopic in joining the NTF-ELCAC… Sana magkaroon tayo ng bukas na kaisipan at malawak na pang-unawa. Nakita naman namin ‘yung shift tulad ng development,” he said, referring to the “paradigm shift” the government has been aggressively implementing in CTG-cleared barangays in far-flung areas through the flagship project, Barangay Development Pogram (BDP).

On the issue of the so-called “red-tagging” and alleged human rights violations by government units, Secillano pointed out that the ECPA’s membership in the NTF-ELCAC will serve as an opportunity for closer dialogue. “Everytime may red-tagging that also includes some of our priests and even bishops, we always reach out naman sa kanila at napapansin naman,” Secillano admitted, adding he sees the venue as the proper forum to prod the government to always give paramount for the promotion and protection of human rights.

“We also would want in the ExeCom (to give importance) to human rights. Mahalaga po itong component na ito dahil kabahagi po sa adbokasya ng ating Simbahan,” he empahasized.

For NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., the CBCP-ECPA’s membership in the Execom is a “blessing” that provides an enormous boost in finding peaceful solutions to put an end to the decades-old violence espoused by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

“We’re blessed to have the CBCP,” Torres said, adding that critics should “listen to the voice of reason rather than throw stones” at the task force and the CBCP.

Last week, the government announced the inclusion of the CBCP into the NTF-ELCAC Execom, a development that drew a slew of negative reactions from different groups, including the front organizations of the CPP-NPA-NDF, like the so-called “Makabayan bloc” in Congress.

Usec. Torres further explained that there is nothing new about the “collective mission” of the Task Force and members of the CBCP when it comes to the government’s programs on peace, unity and development in the country.
“Hindi naman nabago ‘yung participation ng religious sector sa NTF-ELCAC. Sa Region 8 ay merong Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development or SIPPAD. Through the SIPPAD, na-recognize ang religious sector to lead and have a significant part in countering insurgency,” the official pointed out.

He was referring to the SIPPAD participation of the Dioceses of Borongan, Calbayog and Catarman.
Torres said the inclusion of ECPA serves as an “umbrella for closer collaboration” with the Church that could expand to other religious denominations because they are critical components and the government cannot just exclude them from the equation in finding “better strategies” to effectively address the root causes of the armed conflict.
“They are narrowing the understanding of NTF-ELCAC, ang tingin nila ang ginagawa lang ito ay ending the armed component of the CTG (communist terrorist group).

Napakaliit lang po ang role (nito) ng NTF-ELCAC. Karamihan po ng pinag-uusapan doon ay more on (the delivery of basic services and) development,” Torres further stressed.

Torres assured that the government has the constitutional mandate for the protection of human rights and also, the government has the duty to give the people the right information.

“Unfortunately, the CPP-NPA-NDF (has devised) the term ‘red-tag’. We really have to continue telling the truth to the public and explain (their) dual tactics. We really need to put out the right information so they can make their own judgment. To let the people know of the duplicity of the CTG,” Torres further stressed.

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02/09/2023

This is very good development. It will give the government a chance to prove to the religious sector its sincerity in ending local communist armed conflict and terrorism in general:

CBCP commission joins NTF-ELCAC

Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News

Posted at Aug 31 2023 10:02 PM
Updated as of Sep 01 2023 09:19 PM

MANILA (UPDATED) - A Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) commission has joined the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Usec. Ernesto Torres said that their executive committee approved to have a member from the religious sector as one of the private sector representatives.

The CBCP commission will be represented by the Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, and his alternate will be Father Jerome Secillano from the Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs.

“We need to review how we do things and…at this point in our campaign, it is necessary that we have two private representatives as member agencies,” Torres explained.

When offered to be a member, CBCP “accepted warmly”, Torres said.

“So with them on our side it will be a lot easier to disseminate, to cascade the information, the good news of the government to those living in the far-flung areas considering the trust and confidence and respect that the general populace have for those in the religious sector. It would readily be accepted by them,” he stressed.

“We will not stop there, because down the road, there will be some observers also as part of religious sector representative, not only the regular member, but observers coming from other religious denominations. That is not yet happening now, but that is within the road map we are crafting,” he added.

'Hindi kayo ang batas': Bishop David condemns Jemboy's killing at the hands of police
In a statement on Friday, CBCP President and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said the Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs' involvement with the NTF-ELCAC would address Church concerns on red-tagging of some cause-oriented groups.

CBCP says only its panel will engage NTF-ELCAC on red-tagging, other issues
David also said that the commission intended to provide "moral-ethical approaches" in addressing insurgency in the country. He noted that the CBCP as a whole would discuss the issue and evaluate whether it is necessary for the commission to join the NTF-ELCAC's executive committee.

NTF-ELCAC is also eyeing to have someone from the business sector as another private sector representative.

Aside from them, the task force also announced that it has included other 11 government agencies and departments as regular members, bringing the total number of members to 32.

These are the following:

▪︎Department of Information and Communications Technology
▪︎Department of Labor and Employment
▪︎Department of Transportation
▪︎Department of Tourism
▪︎Department of Energy
▪︎Department of Trade and Industry
▪︎Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
▪︎Department of Foreign Affairs
▪︎Department of Environment and Natural Resources
▪︎Department of Health
▪︎Department of Migrant Workers

Torres said these member agencies would help in the “whole of government approach” in addressing the root problem of insurgency as well as to help in the development of insurgent-free barangays.

“It’s not just a military of police problem, but it is a whole of nation, and whole of government approach, and nakikita natin when we introduce the support of the barangay development program, as well as the enhances comprehensive local integration program, mas maraming nag-surrender, lalo na yung armed group, and the people themselves, they condemn and repudiated the attempt of the NPA to recover the areas,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano stressed.

Since its establishment in 2018, the task force noted they were able to “dismantle” 69 out of 89 guerilla fronts in different barangays across the country.

Only 20 remain, with 1 active in Northern Samar, and other “weakened” guerilla fronts in Luzon with 6, 7 in Visayas and 6 in Mindanao.

“So what we can see in the term of President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr., finally matutuldukan, matatapos natin ito local armed communist conflict,” Ano said.

“We can now re-orient the focus of the Armed Forces towards external defense, because right now we have so man geopolitical issues, and challenges to face, so we need the Armed Forces to now focus their eyes on external threats,” he added.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=696289109187484&id=100064192021888&mibextid=Nif5oz

MANILA (UPDATED) - A Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) commission has joined the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

18/08/2023

ART OF WAR
August 18, 2023

By Arthur J. Tariman

The Sirao Flower Garden Parking Chaos


The Sirao Garden clamping incident where some tourists had to engage in shouting match with Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) personnel is the latest of such examples of misalignment and mismanagement of some Cebu City Government operations and activities. It is a shame actually, no matter how you look at it.
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The law enforcement function of CCTO is understandable and nothing to argue about. If CCTO personnel are zealots that they had to drive up to the famous mountain flower garden attraction to enforce traffic rules, then they should be acknowledged for so doing.

But CCTO have other priorities. There is the traffic and parking chaos in the lowland, where the bulk of the city's economic activities are being done.

However, in carrying out its work CCTO may need to consult other departments and sectors because transportation at large and traffic of vehicles in particular are products of human activities.

People have to travel daily to work and school. Without transportation, then the economy would literally crawl to survival. Hence, the government, using tax money, have to invest hundreds of billion pesos - perhaps a trillion of pesos - annually to build, maintain and operate roads, bridges, rails, ports, terminals, parking areas, and other critical infrastructures and facilities to ensure effective and efficient transportation systems throughout the country, Cebu City included.

Mayor Mike L. Rama, a well-traveled man and a visionary of his own, need not be told about this. I'm quite sure he knows the import of transportation in developing a place like Singapore, which is known for its efficient international container port terminal - the hub of its booming worldwide trading business.

Back to Sirao, I would suppose the city is taking great pride for the place's breathtaking flower gardens, which attracted local and international tourists day-in and day-out with little help from the government.

If traffic and parking become a bane because of the surge of visitors as we open the economy from the pandemic, then the city government has to find a way to address it without hampering the tourism growth in the area. Let us turn threats into opportunities, so to speak.

If private parking lots are provided for fee or offered free by a garden owner (Roger Bontuyan), it is because he sees the need for it - to make his customers' life a bit comfortable and secure. It is both a necessity and an amenity, actually.

I have no argument about clamping those vehicles parked in the roadsides but not at the designated private parking areas. In the same vein that CCTO does not clamp clients' vehicles parked in the parking lots of SM Malls, which is in reality required by laws.

There are basic "three Es" in traffic management: Engineering, Education and Enforcement.

In solving traffic problem, the first thing to be done is the engineering solution like widening the road and bridges and providing parking areas and buildings. Mayor Rama have been dreaming of multi-deck parking buildings simply because there is lack of space for horizontal parking lots, but I am yet to hear about its realization.

Meaning, if traffic jam and illegal parking has become a problem in Sirao as a result of its tourism activities, which I was told received little help from the city government, then the Rama administration could find remedy without distracting the local tourism industry from its recovery. Rather than destroying the reputation of the place by creating chaos and near rumble-of-sort, CCTO must have dialog first with the flower garden owners, the Barangay Government, the tourism offices and industry at large.

Led by City Hall's "superwoman" Ms. Raquel Arce, CCTO did not even conduct an honest-to-goodness information and education drive before swarming the area with tire clamps. The costly misunderstanding and chaos - which Cebu Updates exploited to the hilt to discredit Mayor Rama and his thrust - could have been avoided.

Now Ms. Arce, made controversial of her stint with City Hall's Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) office, talks about filing criminal complaints against Bontuyan (what is his relation to Jundel Bontuyan of the adjacent Adlawon who recently filed anti-graft case versus Mayor Rama and members of the Bids and Awards Committee?) and other people including perhaps some identifiable tourists who "harassed" CCTO personnel involved in the clamping operation.

Again, I have no issue on enforcing the rule-of-law per se but there is a bigger thing about the promotion of local tourism industry which in the past kicked a lot of money for the city and enlivened its economy.

Before there is theme, Sugbo is already famous worldwide as a tourism destination because of three things: its scenic and historic spots, hospitality of the Cebuanos, and accessibility.

My question: What gain or good can we have in criminally prosecuting a trader and tourists who were caught between business competition, if any, or dirty politics and local government incompetence and inefficiency? Would it make us like Singapore and improve our ailing economy?

Mayor Rama is both a brilliant lawyer and astute politician that he knows best and must call the shot and not Ms. Arce or anyone else in his administration.

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26/07/2023