Loot speaks out, hits youth group

For getting poll rivals as speakers

CEBU, Philippines — Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot has lashed out at the Provincial Youth Commission (PYC) for sponsoring a youth forum in the municipality last Saturday where speakers are his political enemies.

Loot has expressed major concern on the conduct of official activity in the municipality by PYC without informing him as the local chief executive (LCE) or even through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office who has full accountability over the affairs of the youth in Daanbantayan.

In a text message, Loot told Canoy that other than their activity being divisive to the youth, the action manifest gross disrespect of the municipal local government unit in general and a blatant insult to the LCE in particular.

“As the PYC, you should maintain that paragon of exemplary and model behavior for the youth to emulate,” Loot said.

Loot said he got no answer nor reply from PYC Head James Canoy about his concerns.

Canoy has explained the activity to Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura, Loot’s stepson.

Canoy told Shimura that they just responded to the request of Councilor Renillo Gullem who provided them the venue and participants of the forum while the PYC provided the materials and snacks.

Gullem, an aspirant for mayor against Shimura, reportedly was the speaker on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) awareness.

Canoy also suggested to Shimura that PYC will conduct separate forum in the municipality.

Loot explained that PYC was established to unite and empower the youth and not to divide them.

“Is this the lesson we want to enrich the minds of the youth? Obviously we are corrupting them! You are not in the league of political ignorants and parochial politicians down here using and exploiting the PYC office. If you consider yourself as part of the youth generation, then you should know better,” Loot told Canoy.

While it is now a political season, but Loot said “the youth kingdom is totally different and has a unique idiosyncrasies from aging political animals of this planet.”

Loot added that if Canoy did it for the governor, it was wrong and not the way to do it where he is building walls instead of bridges. (FREEMAN)