MANILA, Philippines —Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn "Gwen" Garcia announced on Tuesday that she was leaving the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

In a letter to PDP-Laban President Jose Alvarez, Garcia said a complaint filed against her by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who is the party's vice president for the Visayas and the Office of the President, created an "irreconcilable conflict."

"The complaint, stemming from my efforts to safeguard the Cebu Provincial Capitol's cultural heritage through a duly-issued memorandum, questions my judgment and integrity," she wrote. "While I am confident in the legality and ethical soundness of my actions, the resulting situation, including Mayor Rama's call for my suspension, has made continued association with the party untenable."

Rama has been suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman since May 8, over a complaint by City Hall employees, who were not paid for 10 months and were reassigned to different offices from the City Assessor's Office.

"In light of these circumstances, I believe it is in the best interest of both myself and PDP-Laban that I step aside," Garcia wrote. "Upholding my personal and professional values, while avoiding any actions that could be detrimental to the party, is of paramount importance."

"The current situation has unfortunately created an environment where my continued membership would be inimical to both the party and myself," she added.

Garcia said she was grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to the mission of PDP-Laban during her time with the party and wishes all the members continued success.

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