Palma, biz leaders appeal for calm, stay neutral

CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday called on  supporters of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to remain calm, saying he believes that “what is good and true will prevail” in the end.

“The human heart  always has an allowance for calmness, for peace and for understanding. I think a situation like this is never solved by anger and reaction that  we may regret. Meantime, I would pray for calmness as we still believe in the law. We can always have recourse to the law and bring matters to the proper authority”, Palma said.

Cebu business leaders   who happened to be meeting at the Capitol yesterday were caught by surprise by the governor’s suspension but were careful to stay neutral.

“The different chambers will remain apolitical and encourage the truth to prevail,” said Philip Tan, president of the Mandaue City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The CCCI, MCCI, Cebu Filipino-Chinese Chamber, HRRAC and Cebu Retailers were initially invited for a  December meeting.

“We didn’t even known about the suspension order when we came in,” said Prudencio Gesta, president of the Cebu City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“We were talking about the CACCI hosting next year by the CCCI and in the end she (Garcia)  told us about the issue,” he said.
Gesta declined to comment further saying this was a conflict the government should resolve peacefully. “There is also some legal matter that we still  don’t understand as of now.” /Jhunnex Napallacan and  Aileen Garcia Yap