Brgy. captains say Ruiz stole their chance with Pres. GMA

CEBU, Philippines - Several barangay captains in Mandaue City expressed disappointment over Sixth District Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz for allegedly depriving them from getting near President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the latter’s visit to Cebu the other day.

Tingub barangay captain Mario Bihag said he and 19 other barangay captains and several barangay councilmen waited for Arroyo for almost two hours at the Cansaga Bay Bridge where Arroyo was scheduled to visit only to be disappointed in the end.

“Sa dihang ni abot na ang Presidente, siyempre nisugat si Nerissa pero iyaha man gi-screen ang Presidente nga di maka-adto namo. Didto na hinuon niya dad-a ang Presidente sa mga tanod. Wala na hinuon mi nakalamano ug nakapasalamat sa Presidente. Mao nang dismayado kaayo mi ni Nerissa,” Bihag told The Freeman.

Bihag said the 20 barangay captains are supporters of Mayor Jonas Cortes whom Ruiz will reportedly challenge in next year’s polls.

“Mura og iyaha to nga proyekto nga kana ra ba siya daghan na mga proyekto nga wala mahuman. Igo ra niya ibutang na iyang dagway unya di mahuman ang proyekto,” Bihag added.

Asked for comment, Gonzalo Malig-on, chief of staff of Ruiz, said the congresswoman “will not dignify such a very petty issue.”

“We have no control kinsay lamanuhon sa Presidente. Their reaction is childish just like their walk-out during their seminar in Bohol per instruction of their incompetent mayor who spends more time attacking his perceived opponents instead of doing his job. Unya na lang ta anang pulitika,” Malig-on said.

Arroyo was impressed by the fast development of the P2.38 billion Cansaga Bay Bridge project, a major component of the North Coastal Road. She said the bridge will be completed earlier than scheduled.

Construction of the bridge is almost nearing completion, although, it was originally scheduled to be finished in March. Construction started last January.

The North Coastal Road, a project of the Office of the President, connects barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City to a provincial road in Consolacion town and the Suba Bridge in Liloan town through a highway.

The road aims to provide faster travel from Metropolitan Cebu to the northern areas of the province. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)