Barug members skip Battle of Tres de Abril commemoration

CEBU, Philippines —  Members of the Barug PDP-Laban were absent during the commemoration of the Battle of Tres de Abril in Barangay San Nicolas Proper gym yesterday.

The absence of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella was a big deal for Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña which he expressed during his message.

“Where is Labella? Where is Rama? Naa dinha ilang lingkuranan. This is the irony of it all. They didn't even bother to show-up but when a drug Lord protector Imok Rupinta dies, hala muparada sila atbang sa city hall, muhilak-hilak,’” Osmeña said referring to the killing of former Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta.

Yesterday was the 121st anniversary of the Battle of Tres de Abril

Osmeña also emphasized in his speech that the sacrifices of the police and soldiers should be respected.

“Bastos. These are people who were killed, [yet] they didn’t even bother to [come],” Osmeña told the media after the program.

Howeve, Labella told The Freeman he was not feeling well.

“I think being absent once is excusable considering in many official activities, I even [took over] for him, for his not being able to attend and in fact, delivered the message on his behalf (such as Rizal Day and Bonifacio Day). I did not make a big deal out of it,” countered Labella.

During the commemoration, Cebuanos offered flowers at the Battle of Tres de Abril marker along V. Rama Avenue and Tres de Abril Street to honor the heroic acts of soldiers and fighters who fought for freedom.

It was followed by a Mass and a short program where Guadalupe’s Banauan Cultural Group re-enacted scenes of Leon Kilat’s revolt against the Spanish colonizers.

Mayor Osmeña ended his speech saying "we salute all these heroes who died for our country".

Barangay Captain Clifford Jude Niñal of Barangay San Nicolas Proper revealed they are planning to build a monument with the Tres de Abril heroes’ faces in front of San Nicolas Proper gym.

Niñal said the city government will allocate P5 million as assistance for the construction of the monument.

They are hoping the monument will be ready by  next year during the 122nd commemoration.

The gym will also be renovated to add benches and other facilities.  — Raizza G. Aliviado USC Intern MBG (FREEMAN)