PJ: Yapha too busy in Toledo to mind Pinamungajan

CEBU, Philippines - While former third district Rep. Antonio Yapha, Jr. is busy attending to medical missions in Toledo City with political ally John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, he might have neglected his own hometown, Pinamungajan.

Yesterday, Cebu Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia revealed that no less than Yapha’s daughter, Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha, requested Governor Gwendolyn Garcia last September 2 for a medical mission in her town on October 4.

“The irony is that while Dr. Yapha is so busy tagging along Sonny Osmeña in Toledo City, his own daughter is asking the Capitol for a medical mission in his hometown of Pinamungajan,” Garcia told The Freeman.

“If we follow Sonny Osmeña’s logic, isn’t this evidence of lack of medical services in Pinamungajan?,” Garcia added.

Garcia was reacting to Osmeña’s statement that the number of residents availing his Alagad Medical Mission proves how hungry residents of Toledo City are for health services.

Osmeña’s group, Yapha included, has conducted their medical missions three times in the mountain barangays of Toledo City.

Osmeña and Yapha have claimed their medical missions “affected” those in the administration camp in the district when Garcia, Toledo Mayor Aurelio Espinosa, and his daughter, Vice Mayor Arlene Zambo, put up tarpaulins bearing assurances that their camp had long started giving medical assistance to the residents there.

The tarpaulins also said medical assistance at the Toledo City Hospital and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City is available for residents of Toledo City 24 hours daily.

Garcia said he will endorse Mayor Yapha’s request to the governor and would even attend the mission and provide assistance himself.

“He criticizes Toledo City while his own town mates are crying for medical services,” Garcia said further.

Zambo said earlier that Toledo City have its own social programs aimed at benefitting more people in a long term basis.

“They cannot continue to implement short term social projects, which only last for a few hours, and in the guise of filling in the gaps of the present administration,” Zambo said, referring to Osmeña’s and Yapha’s medical missions.

Zambo said local officials of Toledo led by her father have visited barangays annually under the “Duaw Alagad” program to bring services to the people.

Osmeña earlier announced he is running for congressman in the Third District in the 2013 elections and that the medical missions are a way to get the support of the people.

Osmeña will be facing Garcia at the polls, as the latter announced that he will be seeking reelection for a third term. – (FREEMAN)