Byron frowns at Gwen joining Sinulog
-A A +AFriday, January 18, 2013
IF CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia really wants to dance during the Sinulog grand parade, she can do it at the Capitol grounds, not at the Cebu City Sports Center.
This was the suggestion of Byron Garcia to his sister.
Byron does not want his sister to dance during the Sinulog festival for security reasons. His sentiment is shared by another brother of the governor, third district congressman Pablo John, and their father, second district congressman Pablo.
“I advised her not to dance in the Sinulog. We can make a gesture of devotion (here at the) Capitol,” he said, adding that it would be unwise to ignore threats.
The governor, who was suspended by Malacañang for six months for grave abuse of authority, said she will think of Byron’s suggestion.
She said she listened to her family’s views and she has made a decision, which she will announce later.
Approval
Byron said their mother, retired judge Esperanza Fiel-Garcia, approves of Gwendolyn dancing during the Sinulog.
Earlier, the suspended governor admitted there is a risk that she would be locked out of her office at the Capitol if she insisted on participating in the Sinulog grand parade.
The governor has been staying in her office since Dec. 19, defying the Malacañang suspension order.
She said she also considered letting her daughter, lawyer Christina Garcia-Frasco, take her place.
Invitation
Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama dismissed talks that he did not invite President Benigno Aquino III to the Sinulog. He showed reporters a copy of the Jan. 5 invitation letter he sent the President via courier.
Citing City Hall records, Rama said the invitation letter for the President was sent via courier on Jan. 7 and was received by the Office of the President by Patrick Rafanan the following day.
The same letter was also sent through e-mail to the Office of the President.
“We have really done our part. Basin iyang mga tawo ang wa nitrabaho unya wa gipada sa iyang opisina. Di na na sala namo (It’s not our fault if his people did not give it to him),” said Rama.
He said the President’s staff even wrote to Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) executive director Ricky Ballesteros to ask details about the grand parade.
Rama said he has yet to receive confirmation from the office of Aquino, who visited Cebu last Wednesday.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on January 18, 2013.
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