THE United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Wednesday accused the administration party of declaring “martial law” amid the ongoing standoff over the suspension of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia.

UNA Secretary General Toby Tiangco said that the Liberal Party (LP) declared “martial law” in the vote-rich province whose top local officials led by Garcia are affiliated with UNA.

Tiangco said LP committed “glaring violations of the law and clear abuse of power” in attempting to enforce the suspension order on Garcia and installing Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who is a member of the ruling party led by Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd.

He said that the moves of Magpale and the local police were reminiscent of martial law, which was first declared during the Marcos regime.

“The LP-affiliated vice governor closed down two media outlets on flimsy grounds. The police erected barricades and deployed hundreds of armalite-wielding policemen to the capitol,” Tiangco said, adding that Garcia’s supporters and even the employees were prevented from entering and “were not even allowed to bring in food that they have prepared.”

“As Vice President Binay himself pointed out, there is no need to arm the policemen with armalite rifles since it was a peaceful assembly,” Tiangco said.

“Harassment is harassment. You cannot invoke “respect for the rule of law” and “daang matuwid” to justify a patently illegal act and the abuse of power,” he added.

The UNA official also took exception to claims made by the LP that its members have been treated in the same manner as Garcia.

Tiangco said that the suspension of Caloocan Mayor Recom Echiverri, an LP member, was not effectively served and his supporters were allowed to camp out in front of city hall with least police intervention.

“We did not hear the LP or the administration asking him (Echeverri) to follow the suspension order while waiting for the Court of Appeals (CA) to decide,” he said.

The CA however will not issue any action until January 2 on Garcia’s plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against her six-month suspension as the magistrates in charge of her case are on leave.

Garcia filed a plea before the CA in Manila to stop the implementation of a suspension order issued against her by President Benigno Aquino 3rd arising from an administrative case in 2010.

In a petition for certiorari, Garcia through her lawyers sought relief from the appellate court, arguing that it violates her right to due process. She also accused Malacanang of power-grabbing in Cebu City by ordering her suspension.

The suspension order stems from an administrative case filed by former Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., accusing Garcia of alleged usurpation of authority and cutting the budget of his office.

The Department of Interior and Local Government found violations and recommended Garcia’s suspension to the President.

Garcia is now on her third and last term as a governor and is set to run for congress next year.