CEBU, Philippines - President Benigno Simeon Aquino III leads the list of national political figures, who have been invited by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to attend her delivery of the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on July 20 at the Cebu International Convention Center.
Aside from Aquino, the governor has also invited Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Interior and Local Government Sec. Jesse Robredo, Health Sec. Enrique Ona, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, Energy Sec. Jose Rene Almendras, and Transportation and Communications Sec. Mar Roxas.
Garcia is well-known to be on the other side of the political fence of Aquino and his allies.
Among her allies, who have been invited are Vice President Jejomar Binay, former President Jo seph Estrada and Laarni Enriquez; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Also invited are Senators Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Teofisto Guingona III, Franklin Drilon, Edgardo Angara, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr., Pia Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Vicente Sotto III, Lito Lapid, and Francisco Pangilinan.
Former senators Francisco Tatad and Juan Miguel Zubiri are also in the guest list.
Garcia has also invited 33 governors, who are her colleagues in the League of Provinces of the Philippines.
They are Governors Jose Ma. Clemente Salceda (Albay), Roel Degamo (Negros Oriental), Edgar Chatto (Bohol), Orlando Fua Jr. (Siquijor), Imee Marcos (Ilocos Norte), Hja. Jum Akbar (Basilan), Arthur Pingoy (South Cotabato).
Alex Calingasan (Bukidnon), Alfonso Umali Jr. (Oriental Mindoro), Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte), Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (Masbate), Jeorge “ER” Ejercito Estregan (Laguna), Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte).
Carmencita Reyes (Marinduque), Josephine Sato (Occidental Mindoro), Suharto Mangudadatu (Sultan Kudarat), Rolando Yebes (Zamboanga del Norte), Mamintal Alonto-Adiong Jr. (Lanao del Sur), Abraham Kahlil Mitra (Palawan).
Herminia Ramiro (Misamis Occidental), Rosa Vilma Santos-Recto (Batangas), Antonio Cerilles (Zamboanga del Sur), Rommel Jalosjos (Zamboanga Sibugay), Conrado Nicart Jr. (Eastern Samar), Paul Daza (Northern Samar).
Sharee Ann Tan (Samar), Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. (Camarines Sur), Lilia Pineda (Pampanga), Miguel Rene Dominguez (Sarangani), Luis Singson (Ilocos Sur), Alfredo Marañon Jr. (Negros Occidental), and Exequiel Javier (Antique).
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Representatives Imelda Marcos and Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao are also among the 42 congressmen from outside Cebu who are invited.
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay is also among the 13 city mayors from outside Cebu who are invited.
Not attending
While there is a star-studded cast on the guest list, one group is not attending the SOPA.
Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said the members of Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), a local party based in the 5th District of the Province of Cebu will not attend.
“I was thinking of going, but we are worried that it might turn out to be a political rally,” Magpale said.
Magpale also cited an earlier report that some personalities will be attending the SOPA.
She is apparently referring to Binay, Estrada and Enrile, who are set to visit Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr., estranged brother of Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III, the chairman of Bakud.
Bakud has just forged an alliance with the Liberal Party of Aquino and Roxas, who were in Danao City last Saturday.
Non-partisan
Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda has assured that no partisan politics during the SOPA of the governor.
“Partisan political activity? That I’ll assure will not happen,” Sepulveda told reporters.
One Cebu Party gubernatorial aspirant, 3rd District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, said he was not surprised that other side has put political color to the event.
Garcia cited that after Magpale left One Cebu Party for LP, they started counting heads of their allies in the Provincial Board.
“I’m not surprise that Bakud would feel that way and react that way,” he said.
Garcia emphasized that the SOPA is a report from the governor and it is expected of her under the Local Government Code to report to the people on what is happening in the province and what are the plans for the future.
Regardless of political affiliations, all Cebu mayors, vice mayors, barangay captains and barangay volunteer workers are invited to attend the SOPA.—/NLQ (FREEMAN)