2 seniors question City Hall’s radio programs

CEBU, Philippines - Two senior citizens from barangays Labangon and Lahug are asking Mayor Michael Rama to explain why some Cebu City Hall employees are handling block time political radio programs to boost the political ambitions of Team Rama candidates even during office hours.

Evelyn Benavente and Jess Go also asked the mayor to clarify whether the radio programs, Suknaan ni Juan and Kagawasan,  aired over station DYLA are paid out of the people’s taxes or from his own pocket.

In their one-page letter to the City Hall, the two seniors citizens claimed that they have heard and witnessed the concerned City Hall personnel anchoring the radio programs and attacking the opponents of Team Rama candidates.

Suknaan ni Juan is anchored by Richard Alfajura while Kagawasan is being handled by Simeon Romarate, Eli Espina, Jeffrey Cantilla and Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman.

Rama told The FREEMAN that he will look into the matter and that it has to be established first if the named anchors are really City Hall employees.

On-leave City Public Information Officer Carlo Dugaduga clarified that the two radio programs over DYLA are not paid for by the city, but by Rama’s personal funds.

“Dili kwarta sa gobyerno ang gigasto ana, personal na nga kwarta sa mayor. Wala ba diay katungod ang mayor nga mopalit og airtime, dili man tingali monopoliya sa kaatbang ang airtime,” Dugaduga said.

Dugaduga, who had filed a leave of absence effective April 1 so he could campaign for Rama, said that even the candidates of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) have their own block time radio program.

Dugaduga said the radio program is not aimed at smearing the image of Rama’s opponents but to disseminate information about what the mayor has done during his administration.

“Gitubag lang usab sa maong tulomanon ang tanang porma sa bakak, lipatlipat, lit-ag ug pangilad nga gisabwag sa mga tigpaburot gikan sa kampo sa kaatbang sa mayor,” Dugaduga added.

Espina, a regular employee assigned with the Public Information Office (PIO), explained that he was just ordered by Dugaduga to report the activities of the City Government in the program Kagawasan.

“Nagbuhat lang ko sa akong trabaho isip kawani sa PIO pagpadayag sa balita og pagpatin-aw sa mga isyu nga may labot ang lungsod nga walay kapin kon kuwang sigun sa mando sa akong labaw. Si kinsa man ko nga mobalibad ilabi na nga usa usab ako ka magsisibya,” Espina said.

Dugaduga said he could not give information about the program Suknaan ni Juan, which is anchored by Alfajura.

Espina confirmed that Romarate is a City Hall employee but he is not certain about Cantilla.

The FREEMAN checked the records of station DYLA and it was learned that the two programs are not for paid by the City Government.

“Manghinaut kami nga imong barugan ang imong giingon nga tul-iron ang hiwi,” both Benavente and Go told the mayor in their letter.  (FREEMAN)