Despite last Sunday's incident: Garcia refuses extra security

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday said there is no need for her to boost her security detail following an incident in Naga City last Sunday.

This developed as the governor is not interested in pressing charges against Archimedes Reroma who reportedly grabbed her armed during the closing ceremonies of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Sunday night in that city.

Reroma, who ran but lost in the vice gubernatorial race during the 2007 elections, managed to approach Garcia and allegedly grabbed her hand when she met the crowd that surged forward to greet her after the program.

The governor’s security personnel then immediately restrained Reroma.

“Wala ra to (It was nothing),” Garcia told reporters about the incident.

But Cebu Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Carmelo Valmoria said he would deploy additional personnel for the governor even if the Naga City incident was only a minor case.

Valmoria said he would get police personnel from different stations to serve as security convoy of the governor in her visits to the towns in the province.

In her travel around the province, Garcia made it a policy to personally greet her constituents. She said she is trying to reach out to those who “put me where I am, who have the faith and trust in my leadership.”

Byron Garcia, the governor’s brother and Capitol security consultant, said there is still a prospect of beefing up the governor’s security but declined to divulge the details.

Asked if there were lapses on the part of the governor’s security personnel during last Sunday’s incident, Byron quickly answered, “no, wala’y lapses nahitabo.”

Gov. Garcia said she would not file charges against Reroma.

“We will not press charges, wala ra to. Okey ra,” Garcia said, explaining that the incident was part of the hazards that her job entails.

According to her, she would not change what she has been adopting just because of the incident.

Although the governor was unhurt during the incident, she admitted having felt some pain from the hard grip of Reroma.

Despite the incident, Garcia announced that there will be another Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo activity next year.

The program has been a highly successful tourism initiative of the governor.

The latest edition started last Friday in Talisay City and swung through the southern towns, ending in Naga City where the closing program was held Sunday night. -/LPM (THE FREEMAN)