Online outrage over ‘Binay Country’ tarpaulin at SCR

A photo posted by Angela Joey Go of the “Binay Country” tarpaulin at the South Coastal Road on her Facebook account is now making the rounds of social and news media.

Even the final Mass of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (EIC) was not spared from candidates wanting to maximize their exposure to the more than one million devotees who attended the event.

A tarpaulin that read “Welcome to Binay Country” was put up at the South Coastal Road yesterday morning, just a few meters away from the San Pedro Calungsod templete at the South Road Properties (SRP), the venue of the Statio Orobis.

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

Acting Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he ordered the removal of the Binay tarpaulin yesterday morning.

“I immediately ordered our Probe (Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement) team to remove the tarp. And any other tarp for that matter,” Labella said.

SRP Manager Roberto “Bu” Varquez said he didn’t know who installed the tarpaulin as he and his staff were unable to see and check it out.

But some irate motorists did and they took photos of the tarpaulin which they posted on their Facebook accounts.

“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 before he could speak at length 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 of the Liberal Party as the source of the boos.

A similar tarp was seen during the Visayas launching of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) at the 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.

The Mass drew in at least a million devotees, including the 15,000 delegates from 72 countries.

“No idea” was all Rama said when sought for comment. Cebu Daily News tried but failed to reach UNA officials for comment.

Calls and text messages sent to UNA spokespersons Joey Salcedo and Rico Quicho were left unanswered.

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.