CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, the standard bearer of the Partido Barug-PDP Laban, has asked the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City Chapter to move the debate on May 6 to May 10 because of an “important meeting” in Manila.
In a letter to IBP Cebu Chapter, Labella said that he was not able to express consent on the sudden change of the original date of the debate from April 22 to May 6. He said he only received the letter on April 24.
Read more: Tom O., Labella debate moved to May 6
“While I am willing to engage my opponent in the IBP-sponsored debate. I had meantime committed to a highly important meeting in Manila on May 6, 2019. Thus I am requesting the postponement of the May 6 debate to May 10, 2019,” said Labella in the letter.
On the comment section of Labella’s post, he asked for the Cebuano’s understanding and give him a chance to participate in the debate.
“Dili gyud ko mo-back out sa debate. Never. In fact, excited na sab kaayo ko aning debateha. Mohangyo lang ko karon sa IBP ug another date kay naa na man koy importante nga schedule sa May 6. I hope the IBP and the Cebuanos will understand and give me the chance to participate in this debate,” he said.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the standard bearer of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), said on his Facebook page that it was not the right time to move the debate.
Read more: Cebu City debate: No campaign materials, balloons please
“The final conference call for the debate was yesterday. You were absent but your representatives agreed to everything. Ok ko sa May 10. Pero ngano karon ra ka mag inform? Ngita’g palusot na Liebella?” said Osmeña.
(The final conference call for the debate was yesterday. You were absent but your representatives agreed to everything. I am okay with May 10. But why did you inform about the postponement only now? Are you making excuses, Liebella?)
The IBP Cebu City Chapter President, Lawyer Regal Oliva, expressed her suprise to CDN Digital when asked about her comment on Labella’s request that the debate be moved from May 6 to May 10.
She said the IBP Cebu City Chapter would be releasing their statement on the matter./dbs