Leonardia respects Palace decision on Charter Day

MALACANANG declined a request by the City Council to declare June 18 a special non-working day to commemorate the signing of Bacolod City’s charter, but Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he respects the Palace decision.

"I would like to state for the record that we are reiterating that we are respecting the decision of Malacañang. Nevertheless, with the circumstances that happened, I think we can leave it according to how it happened. We have no problem with that," he said.

Malacañang in a letter dated June 14 denied the council's request. Despite such denial, however, President Benigno Aquino III greeted Bacolod City during its celebration last June 18.

Bacolod Lone District Representative Anthony Golez, meantime, said the Charter Day should be celebrated as it has been traditionally celebrated every October 19, the day when Bacolod City's officials were appointed and sworn into office.

However, city officials still pushed through with the June 18 celebration, insisting that they were commemorating the date of the Charter's signing.

To allow city residents to celebrate the June 18 festivities, the City Council requested that the day be declared as a non-working special holiday.

Leonardia said he believes that the issue raised by Golez can be tackled in a more appropriate forum.

"Maybe, in the right time we can revisit that. As of now, I would like to reiterate that we accept whatever is the decision of Malacanang," he added.