Poll fever felt in Taguig City grad program

All’s well that ends well. At least for now.

After being barred from attending the graduation rites at General Ricardo Papa Sr. Memorial High School on Saturday, Taguig Rep. Sigfrido “Freddie” Tiñga was allowed to address the graduates of Cipriano P. Tiñga Elementary School Tuesday morning.

On Saturday, Tiñga was giving a speech at the Eusebio Santos Elementary School commencement exercises when someone turned off the microphone he was using, leading to a scuffle between his staff and city hall personnel.

Department of Education  Taguig-Pateros district administrator George Tizon said that the presence of Tiñga, the congressman of the city’s second district, at graduation ceremonies in schools located in the first district was problematic. It also violates a DepEd memorandum which reminds schools not to allow politicians to turn  the occasion into a political forum.

In a statement, Tiñga’s allies branded the incidents as “harassment employed by Mayor [Lani] Cayetano.”

“It is sad that … in his last opportunity to thank teachers, administrators, parents and students during graduation, Congressman Tiñga was cut off in the middle of his speech. This is the height of disrespect,” Councilor Carlo Papa said.

Tiñga is not running for any position in May although his sister, Rica, is seeking the mayoral seat.