CABIAO, Nueva Ecija – The husband
of late former mayor Abundia Garcia snubbed last Friday the awarding rites in
honor of his wife arranged by the latter’s political rival, Mayor Gloria
Crespo-Congco.
Incumbent
municipal councilor Joe Garcia was a no-show in the “Gabi ng Parangal” awards
night at the Sen. Freddie Webb gymnasium here, creating a stir among the
organizers of the fourth “Paistima Ka sa Kabyawan Festival” led by the
municipal government.
Ex-mayor
Garcia, more popularly known here as “Biding,” was selected as one of two
posthumous awardees by the executive committee whose overall chairman was
Congco’s ally, Vice Mayor Ernesto Talens Jr. The other posthumous awardee was
the late former councilor Alberto Miranda who died of a cardiac arrest last
December 25.
The
awarding rites were one of the highlights of the week-long festival, which
kicked off last February 3, to celebrate the town’s 166th founding
anniversary.
Municipal
accountant Noel Gamboa, chairman of the festival’s executive committee, said
the other highlights were the search for the Binibining Cabiao 2014, street
dancing competitions, ground demonstrations, parade of floats, munting tinig ng
Kabyawenyo, drum and lyre competitions, booth competitions, harana and serenata
among others.
Talens
said Councilor Garcia did not send any representative to receive the award in
behalf of his wife.
“It
is sad but we still expect to hand the award to Councilor Garcia during our
session on Monday. It’s up to him to receive the award in behalf of his wife or
not,” Talens said.
Abundia,
a close ally of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali, was first elected mayor in
2007, beating a former three-term mayor. It was her first and only election
victory after failing in four previous tries at the mayorship.
She
sought reelection in 2010 but lost to Crespo-Congco who returned after three
terms. Abundia filed an election protest but died on January 27, 2011 while
waiting for the outcome of her protest.
During
her wake, a controversy erupted after the funeral hearse bearing her remains allegedly
was denied entry inside the municipal compound where it was to be displayed for
public viewing, earning the ire of Abundia’s relatives, allies and supporters.
One
of Abundia’s children complained that when the funeral procession passed at the
town hall, none of the councilors welcomed it. Worse, the gate of the compound
was padlocked.
Abundia,
her relatives claimed, were also denied a fitting “luksang parangal (tribute)” befitting
a former public official.
One
of them said the award was only a conseulo de bobo and was no longer necessary.
“We were waiting for her to be given the appropriate award just when she died
then but she was deprived. Why only now? They can have the award,” one of
Abundia’s relatives angrily remarked.
Crespo-Congco
said Abundia was given the award which was but only fitting for someone who has
contributed to the development of the town. “Politics was long behind us. Mayor
Biding was a former mayor who I am sure contributed to the growth of Cabiao so
we feel she deserved the award,” she said.
Talens
said that politics had nothing to do with the award and the awarding ceremonies
themselves were apolitical. He denied the claims of Garcia’s relatives that the
funeral procession was not allowed to enter the municipal compound.
“That
was farthest from the truth. In fact, I, and our municipal councilors waited
for Mayor Garcia’s body to be brought to the town hall. We were waiting for her
there but they did not come,” he said.
He recalled that
Crespo-Congco even ordered the town councilors to all dress up in white and
line up themselves up at the compound but the funeral hearse never came.
Councilor
Dante Umali agreed, saying he was one of those who waited for the ex-mayor’s
remains but ended up waiting for nothing. – Manny Galvez
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