Gwen weighs Sinulog options

CEBU Gov. Gwen Garcia did not buy acting Gov. Agnes Magpale’s message that the governor’s office will not be padlocked if she will dance in the Sinulog.

Garcia also said it is very likely that her daughter, lawyer Christina Garcia-Frasco, will dance in her place as her daughter is also a devotee of the Señor Sto. Niño.

“There’s that very huge possibility. Of course, my daughter also has a devotion to the Sto.Niño,” Garcia said.

Magpale earlier assured Garcia that she can return to her office for it will not be padlocked if ever she will dance this Sunday.

Garcia began staying in her office last dec. 19 after a copy of the suspension order was left in the governor’s office.

“Karon na nausab na napud (Now, it has changed), well, considering atong (on the) previous experience niya, you cannot take her word for it because as I said yesterday depende man na (it depends). It changes from one mood to another,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.

Garcia said they are taking all aspects into consideration.

“The ultimate question that I must answer is, asa man ang labing importante para nako (what is the most important for me?). My devotion to the Sto. Nino or the risks involved in dancing for the Sto. Niño? Kaila mo nako murag kahibaw na tingali mo unsay tubag nako (You know me, I guess you know the answer),” she said.

Placards

Meanwhile, the placards placed at the entrance of the governor’s office were removed.

They were used during the rally of the supporters of Garcia in front of the Capitol.

One of the placards shows a picture of Magpale with a map of Cebu Province with the words “Gusto ko mopuli (I want to take over)” and the picture of the Sto. Niño with Magpale’s face and the word “Simbako.”

Earlier, Magpale said she will try to remove all of those.

Garcia said she heard that placards were removed by the policemen.

“Duna tingali naguol ato. Apil tingali ang pulis sa naguol, apan kahibaw tingali ta kung kinsa’y labing naguol ato. (Maybe, someone felt sad about it. Maybe the policemen were also sad, but we know who feels really sad). Well, what can we do, gitangtang man nila (they removed it),” Garcia told reports.

When asked if they will file a case, Garcia said they will only do that if there is a valid reason.

Cooperation

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he can work with Magpale and he can talk to the Province’s sitting chief executive about the 93-1 problem affecting the City’s constituents.

Rama said he and Magpale exchanged pleasantries during the airport welcome for balikbayans yesterday.

He said Magpale has always been part of the Balik Cebu program and a friend.

Rama said that if there is a need to talk to Magpale about the Cebu City residents living on Province-owned lots covered under Provincial Ordinance 93-1, he will do so.

“I will renew the commitment of the City Government because there is a solution to 93-1,” said Rama, who is also hoping that the Cebu City Council will be cooperative.

Budget

The mayor already announced that he will set aside P300 million from the City Government’s coffers to solve the 93-1 issue because some of the families complained that the prices set by Capitol are too steep.

“I was never a problem from the start,” said Rama.

There is no clear procedure as to how the City can intervene in solving the problem.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia (since suspended by the Department of Interior and Local Government) already announced that before her term ends, she would have given a solution to the problem.

But through Councilor Alvin Dizon, Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and other Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) officials, homeowners associations that were covered under the provincial ordinance have complained about the prices set by Capitol.

In a public hearing, the umbrella organization 93-1 Movement believes that the revival of the land swap deal is the best solution to the problem.

In earlier interviews, Rama said this is no longer an option that needs to be discussed because the deal is between the Province and the homeowners. The City Government is just preparing a standby fund if needed.

This came about through the suggestion of Vice President Jejomar Binay who worked to solve the problem and told the City Government to appropriate a goodwill fund for the Province-owned lots.