A MOVEMENT to get the youth interested in current issues in Cebu City was launched last Wednesday, May 1, during a concert that featured popular Cebuano artists.
However, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has accused the opposition Barug PDP-Laban of “tricking” the public into attending a campaign sortie.
Organizers of the “Pulihi Na, Cebu!,” a concert for a cause held at the IC3 Convention Center in Barangay Mabolo last Wednesday, May 1, clarified that no politicians campaigned during the concert.
“The free Labor Day concert dubbed as ‘Pulihi Na, Cebu!’ was a movement for the youth to awaken them on the current issues of Cebu City. People lined up at the event venue starting at four in the afternoon and stayed until 10 in the evening, standing and waiting for their favorite performers. Among those who wore the ‘Pulihi Na, Cebu!’ shirts were Cebuana singers Karencitta and Janine Berdin. No politicians campaigned during the concert since the organizers assured the people that it was a movement,” the press release said.
The press statement also said the organizers were composed of businessmen and members of civil society.
“‘Pulihi Na, Cebu!’ is the same movement during the end days of Marcoses. Shown during the concert are the pressing problems of Cebu City including problem on garbage, traffic, water, flood and poverty,” the press release said.
According to organizers, more than 20,000 attended the concert.
“Those who are claiming that the concert was a scam, are the ones that did not go to the concert and are politically motivated by the mayor in position,” the press release said.
In a series of Facebook posts, Osmeña shared the statuses of netizens who were dismayed because the event was turned into a political sortie.
“Youth were tricked tonight into going to a free concert only to find out it was (Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael) Dino and (Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo) Liebella’s free concert. I guess I should be grateful that even though wala ko nag sponsor ako gihapon ang pinakasikat didto (I did not sponsor it, but the event made me popular),” the mayor wrote as caption in one of his posts.
Tickets for the concert, which was originally called “Buwan, the Free Concert,” were distributed to the public for free.
Inside the venue, tarpaulins with “Pulihi na, Cebu” written on them could be found. Labella, Dino and some other candidates under the Barug PDP-Laban were also in attendance.
In a Facebook post, Labella thanked those who came and supported him.
Meanwhile, Osmeña questioned the issuance of a memorandum, dated April 26, by the director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), ordering all station commanders to get clearance first before allowing persons under police custody to be interviewed by members of the media.
“Effective immediately, media personalities who would wish to interview with person/s under police custody shall first secure clearance from the office of the city director. Without such, no interview shall be permitted. Violation of this direction shall be seriously dealt with,” the memo said.
The memo was issued after a video showing three persons, including Eddie Basillote, who was arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, being mauled by armed men believed to be police officers from the Talamban Police Station came out.
Osmeña posted a copy of the memo on his Facebook page.
“First, a death threat and then a gag order. No search warrant, a ‘buy-bust’ caught on CCTV (closed-circuit television) where they break into someone’s house, hit a baby, brutalize the pregnant mother and steal her money. What are you trying to hide, CCPO?” read Osmeña’s caption.