Sinulog participation: Garcia respects Osmeña’s  stance vs. dancing inmates

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will not anymore insist to Mayor Tomas Osmeña to allow the dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center join the Sinulog on January 20.

“The city’s chief executive has spoken. We will respect his (Osmeña) judgment call,” said Garcia, referring to the objection of the mayor to the idea of having the CPDRC detainees perform during the festivity inside the Cebu City Sports Center.

The governor’s brother, Byron, who is the Capitol consultant on security, requested the Sinulog Foundation Inc. headed by Vice Mayor Michael Rama to allow the inmates to present a dance number, saying that this would be “something new to the traditional Sinulog presentation.”

Rama earlier agreed to the proposal but said he would refer first the matter to the foundation.

Although he considered the possibility of having the inmates from the Cebu City Jail to also perform during the affair, the vice mayor said it depends on the court if it will allow the inmates to leave the jail and join the festival.

The vice mayor said the annual Sinulog festival can be a venue for the prisoners to pay tribute to the Holy Child, but jail officials should see to it that security measures are in place to prevent the inmates from escaping.

Dolly Suzara of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. said Byron’s request would be discussed by the board during its meeting on January 4.

Osmeña was quoted as saying that he is against the proposal of letting the CPDRC inmate participate in the festival, citing security reasons.

“I will not allow it even if Michael Jackson joins them,” the mayor had said.

Though somehow disappointed, Garcia said she would respect the assessment of the mayor. The governor also assured that she would still be giving financial assistance to the festival, but refused to divulge the amount.

Garcia said the CPDRC inmates gave honor not only to Cebu but to the entire country after the prestigious Time magazine ranked their dance showcase the 5th most-watched video in the world.

Besides, the governor said she read in The FREEMAN’s TEXT VEWS that most Cebuanos are not in favor of allowing the inmates to present a dance number even inside the sports center. — Gerome M. Dalipe/LPM