Aquino to visit Cebu vice guv's wake

CEBU CITY -- Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Ramon Melvin Buenafe assured they are prepared for the arrival of President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday.

President Aquino is slated to attend the wake of the late Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. Thursday morning at Crystal Palace, a complementary facility of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes of Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City.

Buenafe said they have set security preparations and requirements for the President's arrival.

The police official said the presidential staff coordinated with them a week before over security matters.

President Aquino sent a wreath to Sanchez's family last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Sanchez's nephew, Busay barangay captain Eliodoro "Yodi" Sanchez, addressed questions on what will happen to the late vice governor's radio station and health supplement business.

Yodi said they will have to follow the wish of the late vice governor not to sell the radio station, despite offers from interested parties.

As to Lacto Pafi, Yodi said Greg's daughters will continue its operations.

"Life goes on," Yodi said in Cebuano.

For its part, the Cebu City Council, on mass motion, conveyed their sympathy and condolences to the family of the late vice governor.

In a resolution penned by Councilor Lea Ouano-Japson, the council described Sanchez as a successful engineer and an inventor of a supplemental health drink.

Sanchez was an ally of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), whose members ran under the banner of the Liberal Party in the May 2010 elections.

He was the first vice governor elected for three straight terms in the province's history.

The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) also passed a resolution, expressing their deepest sympathies, over his death.

The vice governor's colleagues at the PB and employees of the legislative department gathered last May 2 for a necrological service.

The PB during the session last Monday offered a minute of silence to the vice governor after they offered a prayer for the eternal repose of his soul.

Sanchez, 69, succumbed to stage four lung cancer last April 29 at the intensive care unit of Chong Hua Hospital last Friday.

Sanchez's body will be laid to rest at the Mactan Memorial Garden on May 7. Mass will be at the Redemptorist Church at 1 p.m.

His burial was changed from May 8 because they wanted his friends to watch the Manny Pacquiao fight. Yody said the vice governor was a rabid fan of Pacquiao and he always watched all his fights.

For President Aquino's arrival Thursday, Cebu City police will be posted in different areas, especially along the President's route.

"We didn't encounter any problems before, so we are expecting the same way for the president's visit now," said Buenafe, referring to President Aquino's previous visit.

When asked if the President's visit will cause heavy traffic along his route, Buenafe said the President abides by traffic rules and regulations and does not even like having a lot of security detail. (JBT/RSA/JGA/Sun.Star Cebu)