DAVAO CITY— About 20 seats reserved for the city government officials were left vacant until the last minute of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s arrival for the formal inauguration of Davao City’s P12 billion Bulk Water System Project on Wednesday.
A source told Newsline that a city official had informed them about the inauguration but were told “Bahala mo if moadto mo basta kami dili (It is up to you if you attend but we will not).”
There are no direct instructions for holding them.
But the statement led them to believe that going to the event was a big political risk and no one dared to attend. Not even a representative.
Since no one sat on the chairs reserved for city officials and councilors, the organizer requested the guests to occupy the front seats before the President’s arrival.
Even if the city officials were not in attendance, Marcos thanked the city government for initiating the project in 2015.
Sabine Aboitiz, president of the Aboitiz Equity Ventures in his speech recognized the role of the city government in realizing the project. He recalled that the friendly relationship between the Aboitiz and the top city officials dates back to he implementation of the Davao City Streetlighting project and the relationship remains in harmony.
Eduardo Bangayan, the chairman of the board of the Davao City Water District, and a very close friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte appreciated the support of the city to the project.
The DCBWSP is a joint venture of the Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc and the Davao City Water District.
The project’s Memorandum of Agreement was signed in 2015, during the incumbency of then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, progressed during the term of then-Davao City Mayor, now, Vice President Sara Duterte, and was inaugurated during the term of Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
But none of them attended the inauguration.
Weeks ago, Mayor Sebastian Duterte asked President Marcos Jr. to “‘Resign if you do not have love for the country’.”
The Duterte patriarch also criticized the President and even accused him to taking illegal drugs.
