RESIDENTS of Barangay Napo, Carcar City in southern Cebu are accusing outgoing Vice Mayor Nicepuro Apura of committing a “double standard” when he ordered local police to stop the holding of a live band event that drew 3,000 people in the barangay on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
But Apura, in a separate interview on Monday, May 23, denied that he was playing politics when he ordered the activity stopped as organizers allegedly violated the city’s ordinance that prohibits the holding of public discos or similar events.
Apura also claimed that the organizers also failed to secure a permit for the event.
“We based our order on the ordinance, and not on politics,” Apura told SunStar Cebu.
In their report, personnel from the Carcar City Police Station led by Lt. Col. Ardioleto Cabagnot went to Barangay Napo at 10:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, to stop the event organized by the barangay.
Based on the police report, local police stopped the activity after incumbent City Councilor Jay Garcia, upon Apura’s orders, complained against the event.
But former Napo village chief Ronel Nacua told reporters he was surprised when police arrived to stop the activity.
Nacua said the live band presentation was part of their nightly activities in preparation for their annual fiesta in honor of St. Isidore the Laborer.
Nacua said aside from the live band, they were also awarding the winners of their yearly basketball tournament at that time.
Nacua claimed that the stopping of their event was “politically motivated,” adding the current city administration led by the Apuras was singling them out as other barangays were able to hold similar activities but the City never ordered them stopped.
During the start of the local and national campaign period, several concerts were held in the city.
He added they had a permission from the barangay to hold the activity, which was held in a privately owned open court.
“Tataw maingon nato nga dunay politika nga nagpahipi, kay nganong ang ubang barngy... sama ra ang kalihokan wala pa undanga (It’s very clear that politics is behind this, since other barangays were allowed to hold the same activity),” Nacua said.
A resident in the barangay, who asked not to be named for security purposes, alleged that Apura and Garcia might have ordered the stopping of the event after they lost in Barangay Napo during the May 9 elections.
Apura, who was running for mayor, lost to incumbent Councilor Mario Patricio “Patrick” Barcenas during the local elections there on May 9.
Sunstar Cebu tried to contact Barangay Napo chief Roderico Sonsona to ask for his side but calls and texts to his phone remained unanswered as of press time. / GPL / TPT