Saturday, October 14, 2006 Arroyo treated to cultural show during guv’s birthday celebration
PRESIDENT Arroyo was treated to a cultural show depicting festivals from different Cebu municipalities in her private time Thursday night at Badian island, where she was guest in Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s 51st birthday party.
She walked to the buffet table several times to choose her own food and stayed until 9:30 p.m. to watch the presentation and approached the children-dancers of Alcoy’s Siloy festival.
Security was tight for the island, where at least a hundred guards were scattered to secure the President, and a military tank was on standby.
Even police escorts of the governor were made to leave their firearms at the Cebu mainland where boats brought guests to the Badian Island Resort and Spa.
Cebu Provincial Police Director Vicente Loot was also reportedly blocked from going to the island to secure the governor when the Presidential Security Guards (PSG) checked the guest list, which had changes.
Some guests of the governor also suffered the same fate, but matters were immediately solved by the staff members of the governor.
Even the video camera from the governor’s office that was to be used to document the activity was not allowed in the island.
Loot, in an interview over radio dyLA, said he understands the duty of the PSG to secure the President.
Last Thursday’s misunderstandings were merely due to the absence of coordination from the PSG and the local police, he said.
Loot added, though, that it would be best for the PSG to tap next time the local police office to avoid similar incidents.
The party, however, went on without a hitch. Old Cebuano songs were played, aside from the Moalboal “balitao” singers who sang cultural songs.
When the festival dances were over and the President left the party to sleep, the rest of the officials, including Trade Secretary Peter Favila and Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, joined Garcia to a dance accompanied by a live band. (JPM)
