Décor stirs controversy at CH

CEBU, Philippines - A coffin bearing the pictures of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and his councilor wife, Margot, displayed outside the office of Councilor Joel Garganera has stirred controversy in what was supposed to be a simple decoration required of all offices in the City Hall in the observance of the Halloween.

City Administrator Veronica Morelos required all offices to decorate for today’s scheduled Trick or Treat activity for children at the City Hall.

Garganera obliged and placed a coffin outside his office as part of his decoration. In the backdrop were the words “R.I.P. (rest in peace) Inayawan Landfill!”

However, some employees loyal to Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan revolted upon seeing the pictures of the city’s first couple on the glass cover panel of the coffin.

A staff of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor described the decoration as “very malicious.”

“Pag-agi nako sa office ni Cons, nakita nako ang front page sa newspaper nga naa ang nawong ni mayor ug ni Councilor Margot nga naa gyud sa bildo sa lungon,” the employee who requested anonymity told THE FREEMAN.

According to the employee, it was disturbing because the intension was “malicious.”

 “Of course, naglagot gyud ko kay para nako unprofessional kaayo siya ba. Nanungog gyud sa isyu ug ni mayor,” the employee said.

Garganera said there were 25 news clippings, including front pages of different newspapers posted outside his office. He said it was not the intention of his office and his staff to insult or to hurt anyone.

“They are making a story out of nothing. My staff are involved in my advocacy to close down the landfill because of health and environmental issues,” he said.

Garganera said he was asked by Annabeth Cuizon, executive assistant of Councilor Margarita Osmeña, to take down pictures attached to the casket’s glass panel.

Garganera said the picture was chosen to be placed on the casket’s cap panel because it was the only colored news clipping that they have since all original copies of news reports were attached to the case that he filed against the mayor.

Garganera was asking the court to intervene and issue a closure order of the landfill for violations of environmental laws. The case is still pending before the Court of Appeals.

He said some employees are just misinterpreting the message.

“But I can’t help it if that’s their thinking. With all honesty, we have no intention nga lain.

To avoid being misinterpreted, Garganera said he already asked his staff to cut out the photo.

“If it caused inconvenience to other people, my apology,” he added. (FREEMAN)