Medical mission cancelled, "threat" by Tomas blamed

CEBU, Philippines - Many poor residents of barangay Cogon-Pardo went home dismayed and empty-handed yesterday when a scheduled medical-dental mission in their barangay was cancelled reportedly upon the orders of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

But Cogon-Pardo barangay captain Eugenio Gabuya, an opposition ally and a candidate for city councilor under the Kugi Uswag Sugbu, said he is hoping that the reason of the cancellation of the medical mission is not politically motivated.

Osmeña said he was not the one who ordered the cancellation of the medical mission, although he told the members of the 51st Marines Reserve Battalion that if the medical mission will push through at the Cogon-Pardo barangay hall, he will resign as their commander.

The mayor, a Marine reservist with the rank of lieutenant colonel, has been designated commander of the 51st Marines Reserve Battalion.

“Klaro man gud kaayo nga gamiton ra sa barangay kapitan ang medical mission sa iyang pamolitika mao nga ako silang giingnan nga kon mopadayon sila paghimo’g medical mission sa barangay hall, moresign ko pagka commander sa 51st Marine Reserve battalion,” Osmeña told The FREEMAN.

But in a separate interview Lt. Tito Ranara, the administrative and public information officer of the 51st Marines Reserve battalion, said the reason why the medical mission in barangay Cogon-Pardo was cancelled yesterday was because of the lack of doctors and other volunteers.

“Usa ra ka doktor gikan sa AFP-Naval Forces Central and available kay ang ubang doktors namalibad kay duna sila’y laing giatiman. Mahimo nga kon madayon gani ang medical mission, unya na sa sunod tuig,” Ranara said.

The medical-dental mission was to be composed of about 90 volunteers from various government line agencies of the government, the members of the 51st Marines Reserve battalion were only to act as the crowd control team during the event.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office shouldered the expenses for the needed drugs and medicines.

When asked about Osmeña’s threat to resign as commander of the 51st Marines Reserve Battalion if the medical mission would push through in Cogon-Pardo barangay hall, Ranara said “Aw kon mao na, dili na lang mi moapil sa medical mission.”

Gabuya explained that the medical-dental mission was originally scheduled last December 5, but it was postponed yesterday also because of lack of doctors and other volunteers.

“Daghan g’yod tawon nga mga pobre nga miari dinhi aron makapahimulos sa medical mission nga nanghilak pagkasayod nga gikanselar ang kalihukan,” said the barangay captain. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)