One Cebu to hold prayer rally tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - The One Cebu Party will hold a prayer rally tomorrow for the Court of Appeal justices to render an honest decision on the petition for temporary restraining order that Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia filed in relation to her suspension.

January 10 is the scheduled hearing to discuss the merits of Garcia’s petition to reject the suspension order issued by the Office of the President.

Party leaders composed of incumbent congressmen, mayors, vice mayors and candidates in the coming May elections met yesterday at the Office of the Governor to discuss the activity.

Fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon said this will be a bigger rally than the one held last December 30 by some supporters of Garcia.

Salimbangon appealed to the police not to prevent people to come to express their sentiments as it is their right to hold peaceful assembly.

During the December 30 freedom march, a lot of Garcia’s supporters were reportedly barred from going to Cebu City by uniformed personnel conducting checkpoints in southern Cebu.

“We pray that they will be able to see the light of this situation. We will do this for the people of the Province of Cebu to allow them to come on their own and join this peaceful prayer rally,” Salimbangon said.

Salimbangon added they will pray that justice will come with an honest decision from the CA as they believe the suspension order is not proper.

As they announced the payer rally, Salimbangon said they will make a formal request to the Philippine National Police to allow the people to join.

“We will assure the police, these people are not terrorists. They are public officials. They are barangay officials,” Salimbangon said.

Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot told reporters that majority of the mayors are against the suspension order and they want their voices to be heard.

“Ang trust namin nandyan pa rin kay Gov. Gwen,” Loot said before the national and local media after the meeting.

The assembly area is the Fuente Osmeña Circle at 3 p.m. where a mass will be held to be followed by the march to the Capitol grounds.

Present in yesterday’s meeting were Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia of the second district, third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia,  Salimbangon, former sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz, Provincial Board Members Julian Daan, Sergio Restauro, Cesar Ian Geronimo Zambo, Sun Shimura and Joven Mondigo Jr., first district congressional candidate Gerard Anthony “Sam-sam” Gullas, vice gubernatorial candidate Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV, former PB member Carmiano Kintanar and Elmer Cabahug, candidate for PB in the sixth district.

Incumbent mayors and vice mayors of One Cebu Party were also present.— /MBG (FREEMAN)