CEBU, Philippines - Last week, businessman Efrain Pelaez, the mayoralty candidate of the Liberal Party in Lapu-Lapu City, complained about alleged unfair tactics being employed by incumbent Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, who is running for congressman representing the lone district of Lapu-Lapu.
Pelaez has claimed that Radaza has instructed the principal of the Punta Engano National High School to drop him from the list of people to be invited to the commencement exercises on April 5.
“Why should I not be invited to the graduation rites?” Pelaez said.
He said that for the past 16-years his foundation, the Coral Point Educational Foundation, has been extending scholarships to the school’s valedictorians and salutatorians.
Pelaez was surprised upon learning that he was not invited to the 12th commencement exercises of the school when he has always been the guest of honor and speaker for the past years.
Pelaez said school officials had told him that the mayor’s wife, Paz, who is running against him for mayor, will be the one to give the scholarships.
“Karon na lang sila mohatag? For the past nine years, wala gyud sila nakabuhat niana,” Pelaez said.
Stephen Clint Canamo and Giar Eyas, the school’s valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, had purportedly appealed to Pelaez in a letter to continue giving scholarships.
“We couldn’t make this dream come true because our parents can’t afford to send us to college,” they wrote.
“We need your full support in building a brighter future for us and our family,” Canamo and Eyas said.
After reading the letter, Pelaez said he will attend the graduation rites on April 5 and will continue to give scholarships to deserving students even if school officials have not invited him.
“Moadto gyud ko kay ang mga estudyante man ang nag-invite nako. Bahala dili ko imbitahon sa mga opisyal,” Pelaez said.
The Radaza camp will issue an official statement in due time in connection with the issue. - THE FREEMAN