Davide denies LP booing Binay

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III vehemently denied allegations that it was the Liberal Party which was responsible for putting Vice President Jejomar Binay to shame during the Sinulog Grand Parade.

"It's a very reckless, very irresponsible accusation. We also respect the occasion," said Davide, provincial chairman of LP, during his regular press conference yesterday.

It was Joey Salgado, head of the Vice President Media Affairs, who relayed to the media that he received reports that the “boos” came from LP contingent.

Davide said he was not at the Cebu City Sports Center when the incident happened since he was welcoming his colleagues in the party who are also running for national posts in the coming May elections.

LP senatorial aspirants Leila De Lima, Risa Hontiveros, and Joel Villanueva were spotted tagging along with the Capitol contingent during the grand parade.

Binay was with his runningmate Senator Gregorio Honasan and senatorial candidates under United Nationalist Alliance party —Alma Moreno, Harry Roque, Getulio Napeñas, Alan Montano, and Jacel Kiram.

Binay was booed by the crowd at the Cebu City Sports Center after he was introduced by suspended Mayor Mike Rama and allowed to say his greetings.

Davide believed that the spectators might have observed unfavorable acts which prompted them to react that way.

"We can't stop the people. Kabubot-on pud to’s mga tawo, wa siguro sila kauyon," he said.

Davide, however, seemed to have disagreed with the behavior shown by the audience that time, saying that due respect should have been observed.

"Occasions like that naa untay pagtahod to the people, personalities who were there," he added.

In a separate interview, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale expressed that she felt embarrassed with what Binay received from the crowd. But she denied that the opposing camp was responsible.

"I was embarrassed because it happened in Cebu. Wa ko kabalo unsay buhaton, miduko na lang ko. I am not blaming the people though. It was just a spontaneous reaction of the audience nga they did not want speeches," she said.

Magpale was with the vice president when he was booed. She said the “boos” did not come from a particular place only.

She recounted that Rama and Binay also had a selfie together even before the Mass was ended, which could have also bugged the audience.

"Mura'g distracted ang mga tawo bitaw," she said.

Magpale is a member of the local party Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya, which has a coalition with LP. — (FREEMAN)