Anti-corruption group owns up ‘tout’ banner

CEBU, Philippines - It was an anti-corruption group based in Cebu that mounted the “NEVER AGAIN...” banner at the controversial Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said it was the Cebuanos for Good Governance and Development that hung the banner.

Davide read a copy of the letter from the group before the members of the media.

He said he was furnished a copy of the letter request addressed to provincial administrator Mark Tolentino.

Davide showed the media the copy of the letter signed by Mariel Kay Estrada, the group’s lead convenor.

The group claimed that it is an alliance of concerned individuals and organizations in Cebu.

“We are currently linking up with key government agencies (which) are noted as advocate against this social illness (corruption) that hampers local economic and social development,” part of the letter read.

The group also invited the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman- Visayas, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas for a series of activities as part of the group’s awareness campaign against corruption.

In order to “dramatize” its sentiments against corruption, the group said they mounted the “NEVER AGAIN...” banner at the CICC, which they described as “an establishment, that we know, is a modern monument tainted with issue of corruption, allegations, and other anomalies.”

Davide reiterated his earlier statement that he would not have the banner removed since it is merely showing its cause for good governance, which coincides with what his administration is espousing.

He said the message on the banner is also a way of reminding the public that the facility is a “monument of corruption,” noting that it is a subject of graft case pending before the Office of the Ombudsman involving former governor, now third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia.

Garcia’s brother Winston, who is challenging Davide in 2016 gubernatorial race, believes that the banner’s message was aimed at the current administration’s “poor governance” for not doing so much.

The CICC has been standing idle after it suffered severe damage when the magnitude 7.2 earthquake rocked Bohol and Cebu in October and super typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

The facility was constructed during the previous administration for the 2007 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit at over P800 million in public funds.  (FREEMAN)