Binay, UNA leaders to grace Sinulog sans Aquino

EVEN without President Benigno Aquino III, Cebu City will still have its share of top national officials as guests for this Sunday’s Sinulog Grand Parade and dance competition.

Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) executive director, said he was only waiting for the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) to coordinate with his office on the visit of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Despite the President’s disclosure that he wasn’t invited, Rama said his office is still following up on invitations he sent out last Jan. 7 to ranking personalities including President Aquino, Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former president Joseph Estrada.

Rama earlier clarified that he sent the invitation to the President last Jan. 5 via a courier company.

He showed reporters a receipt which mentioned that his letter to Aquino was received by a certain Patrick Rafanan the next day.

“Dili ko gusto makig away sa presidente uy. Ngano gud nga dili ta mang imbitar? (I don’t want to fight the President. Why would I not invite him?,” Rama said.

Rama said the president should instead check who among his staffers didn’t receive the invitation letter.

He said several senatorial aspirants also asked his office for VIP passes.

President Aquino told reporters that the invitation may have been buried under the 50,000 invitations his office usually receives in a month.

The President was in Cebu last Wednesday to attend a shipyard opening in Balamban town.

He also introduced senatorial aspirants of the Liberal Party to supporters at the Mandaue City Sports Center.

Mr. Aquino said he couldn’t actually attend the Sinulog because he has a prior commitment to Zamboanga.

He said he didn’t want to disappoint the people there because his visit will mark his first time to be there after the 2010 elections. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles