Did she offend One Cebu, or just Gwen? Loot wants expulsion to undergo due process

CEBU, Philippines – Daanbantayan town Mayor Maria Luisa Loot wants her expulsion from the One Cebu Party to undergo due process.

"Akong klarohon kung nakasala ba ko sa partido tungod kay wala mi kaapil sa Pasigarbo or kang Governor Garcia ra. Ato sad ipabisita ang constitution and by-laws sa One Cebu para makahibawo ko unsa ang proseso," Loot said yesterday.

She said although there has been no official order expelling her from the party, she is already working as an independent.

She, however, said her possible expulsion from the party will not affect her plans for Daanbantayan.

"Maningkamot na lang gyud mi'g amo since siya naman ang niingon nga dili na siya muari sa Daanbantayan, dili na makadawat ang Daanbantayan," Loot said. 

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she will have Loot expelled from the party after the two got into a quarrel. The quarrel started after Loot approached Garcia to ask for financial assistance for their Haladaya Festival and Garcia scolded her for not joining the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

Garcia reportedly said that Loot continues to grant media interviews hurling insults to her that are detrimental to the party.

Loot said it is possible Garcia turned her back on Daanbantayan because they were not able to join the Pasigarbo or maybe because Garcia and her running mate did not get most of the votes of the town during the last elections.

The rift between Garcia and Loot over the funding for the Haladaya Festival yesterday apparently united the Daanbantayanons for the festival's success.

Loot said that Garcia's refusal to give them assistance inspired many of the businessmen there, as well as balikbayans, to donate.

"Naluoy intawon sila, daghan ang nanabang. They gave us P20,000 or P10,000. Bisan ang mga tindera sa Mercado nihatag og tig P5,000 despite the fact nga opposi-tion na sila. First time in Daanbantayan na nagtinabangay ang mga tawo," she said.

They have also received P100,000 from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and another P100,000 from Rep. Benhur Salimbangon.

Loot also said that they are hopeful that the Cebu City government through Mayor Michael Rama will grant them financial assistance.

Rama said that he would have wanted to attend the festival yesterday but he had some prior commitments at City Hall. He also said he will endorse Loot's request to the council this week.

Daanbantayan expects to spend P1.5 million for the festival.

Loot's son, Provincial Board Member and former Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura said that there are more revelers this year than the previous celebrations perhaps due to the free publicity it got from the rift between his mother and Garcia.

"Daghan siguro ang na-curious kung unsa man gyud ni ang Haladaya. Nganung giawayan man gyud," Shimura said.

Shimura said he will exclude himself from the chaos between Garcia and her mother.

"Di ko gusto mo-apil sa ilang away kay both are my parents. Akong inahan is my parent sa lungsod ug si gov akong inahan sa province. Nag-abot lang ang ilang prin-ciples," he said.

Another possible issue is the case of former barangay captain Arsenio Luciano who sought help from the governor regarding the alleged water terrorism in Barangay Bateria, Daanbantayan.

Shimura plans to talk with the governor for clarifications and to coordinate whatever help he can give.

"I am planning to talk with the governor kay basin maghuna-huna unya siya nga kontra mi kay tungod ni Luciano nga ako ra ba mismo ang nagpasaka ug kaso tungod atong iyang issued receipt kay yellow pad and not an OR from government but not because of politics 'ning ako," he said. - Jessica Ann R. Pareja and Ria Mae Y. Booc/BRP (FREEMAN)