A man who once ran and lost for vice governor in the 2007 elections assaulted Governor Gwendolyn Garcia last night in Naga shortly after the closing ceremonies of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbu.
The man, identified as Archimedes Reroma, grabbed Garcia by the arm and refused to let go. He managed to get near the governor as part of the crowd that surged forward to greet and congratulate her after the program.
The governor’s security personnel and people in the crowd managed to separate the two. The security personnel whisked Garcia to safety while the crowd and local police dragged the man away toward the police station where he was interrogated.
Initial reports said the governor was unhurt in the incident, although she did admit having felt pain from the hard grip of the man.
“Sakita adto uy (it really hurt),” the governor said afterward.
It was not clear if the governor was going to press charges against the man.
It was also not clear what prompted the assault.
Residents in Naga said the incident put the town to great shame.
A Ceres bus, that was part of the Suroy Suroy convoy, suffered a broken window, apparently from rock thrown at the vehicle. It was not clear, however, who threw the projectile or exactly when.
The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo is a highly successful tourism initiative of the governor.
The latest edition started last Friday in Talisay City and swung through the southern towns of Cebu, ending in Naga where the closing program was held.
After the program, Garcia made her way to the buses to thank the tourists who joined the southern tour and was met by a horde of well-wishers, not knowing that among them was Reroma.