Politics mars Independence Day rites at Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Manila’s observance of the 111th Independence Day celebration was marred by politics, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno said yesterday.

“Even the observance of the ‘Araw ng Kalayaan’ was not spared from politics,” he said in a statement, noting that key Manila officials were not given any part in the city’s celebration at Rizal Park.

Mayor Alfredo Lim led the celebration at the Manila North Cemetery, while his rival, former Manila mayor and now Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza led the rites at Rizal Park.

Moreno, who attended the flag-hoisting and wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal monument, said he was surprised the program was changed without notifying the city government at all. 

Moreno, who represented Lim, said even Manila’s 5th district Rep. Amado Bagatsing was denied participation in the program prepared by the “Lupon ng Araw ng Kalayaan 2009.”

He pointed out that even in cases where heads of state lay wreaths at the Rizal monument, the one representing the city, being the host, always had a role to play.

Moreno noted that the program of activities given away during the affair “was dotted with the name Atienza,” whose participation was in five out of the nine activities lined up yesterday.

Being the “civilian host” at the Rizal Park rites, Moreno said his presence was not even acknowledged. The scheduled celebration was also moved from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., he said.

Bagatsing, meanwhile, said he would have the matter investigated.

“There should have some respect here. They disregarded not me, but the City of Manila. Guests were only appointed, but we, including Congressman Bagatsing, are elected officials. If we talk about mandate, we have more mandate here,” Moreno said.

He asked who was behind the “sudden” changes in the program different from that coordinated with the city’s tourism and cultural affairs bureau.

During a special program at the North Cemetery, where some former Philippine presidents, legislators, veterans and revolutionaries lay, Lim told surviving veterans that the city’s hospitals and the city government are ready to provide them with free treatment and medicines.

Also present at the affair were descendants of veterans and revolutionaries and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s representative, Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina Jr.

Lim said those in government may repay our heroes by way of providing clean, honest and good service to the public. – Sandy Araneta

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