Binay tarp draws criticism

This tarpaulin that read “Welcome to Binay Country” was put up at the South Coastal Road on Sunday morning, just a few meters away from the San Pedro Calungsod templete at the South Road Properties where the Statio Orobis Mass will be held. The closing Mass is expected to draw at least a million devotees in the area. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Even the final Mass of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (EIC) is not spared from politicians who want to maximize their exposure especially to the more than one million devotees who are expected to attend.

Tarpaulin that read “Welcome to Binay Country” was put up at the South Coastal Road on Sunday morning, just a few meters away from the San Pedro Calungsod templete at the South Road Properties, the venue of the Statio Orobis.

The tarp was mounted on yellow painted iron railings placed on the South Coastal Road’s seaside sidewalk.

Some irate motorists took photos of the tarpaulin and posted it on their FaceBook account.

“Hello! Can anybody get this streamer out of the highway leading to SRP before this afternoon’s International Eucharistic Congress mass? This is placed just before the bridge for people coming from Talisay to see. After what happened during the Sinulog, Rama has become worse. Can’t Rama and Binay show respect?” posted Angela Joey Go on her FaceBook account on Sunday noon.

As of 4:15 p.m., the post generated 34 shares, 43 comments and 30 angry emoticons.

Binay was booed after delivering a short speech during the opening program of the Sinulog Grand Parade at the Cebu City Sports Center on Jan. 17.

The Binay camp later pointed to a delegation from the Liberal Party the source of the boos.

A similar tarp was seen during the Visayas launching of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) at Cebu Coliseum in downtown Cebu City on October 9, 2015.

Suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, an ally of Binay and UNA Visayas head, said he had nothing to do the tarpaulin at the SRP which was apparently timed for the closing Mass of the IEC, which would draw in at least a million devotees, including the 15,000 delegates from 72 countries.

“No idea” was all Rama said when sought for comment.

Talisay City Administrator John Yre delos Reyes said he will check with city hall’s permits and licensing division if anyone applied for a permit to put up the tarp.

In the absence of a permit, Delos Reyes said, he can have the tarp removed.