BAGUIO City Councilor Elmer Datuin denied that a water bottle was thrown at senatorial bet Bong Revilla during the street dancing parade over the weekend.
Datuin said he was walking beside Revilla at the time and saw no bottle go past the senatorial candidate, who chose to join the Baguio Flower Festival activities.
The city official admitted that Revilla at one point, shook hands with the crowd, which he described as a “force of habit” rather than a deliberate attempt to break the rules on decorum for politicians during the parade. He said he was quick to stop Revilla and remind him of guidelines.
Datuin added that Revilla seemed to have crashed the parade only because he was late and came from the market area and not at the starting point of the parade at the Panagbenga Park.
Datuin, who chairs the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) executive committee, said overall decorum of the invited guests were satisfactory and guidelines on politicking were followed.
Joining Revilla during the parade were senatorial bets Imee Marcos and Lito Lapid despite a ban set by organizers.
A national daily reported that Revilla was almost pelted by a water bottle near the end of the parade route.
Datuin said only Marcos walked to the Baguio Athletic Bowl to sit at the grandstand and wait to be acknowledged while Lapid and Revilla left at the end of the parade route.
Organizers barred Marcos from speaking during the program.
Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan likewise said politician guests were behaved and, as far as he knows, followed guidelines unlike local officials who broke protocol.
Domogan added that it was the decision of the City Council which prevailed during the parades which allowed political guests to walk the route with incumbents.
The mayor said everyone was welcome to join the parade, even local candidates, but stressed rules on decorum must be followed.
Formal invitations were sent to Revilla, Lapid, Marcos and Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, who was not able to make it.