NEWSFLASH

CEBU CITY MAYOR IN HOT WATER FOR ROME TRIP

Cebu City, March 28, 2000 - Mayor Alvin Garcia went to Rome for the beatification of Pedro Calungsod without any approval from Malacañang or the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine Star reported today, based on a Freeman News Service story.

DILG Secretary Alfredo Lim said Garcia has to explain about his trip or face administrative sanction.

DILG Memorandum Circular 99-67 requires officials going on foreign trips to secure approval from the President at least 10 calendar days prior to their departure. While requests are addressed to the President, it is the DILG secretary, undersecretary or even regional director who approves such trips.

Garcia justified why he went to Rome without Malacañang or DILG approval.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime event and I was invited by the Pope as mayor of Cebu City. Besides, I attended that event without using a single centavo of government funds. Where can you find an official who attends an official function using his own money? I don't care if I will be sanctioned for the trip as long as I saw the Pope. It was worth it," Garcia said.

Garcia said he is not afraid to be investigated regarding the trip, saying as far as he is concerned, he did not violate any government regulation.

"I welcome any investigation because I know that everything is moot and academic because I did not violate any law, " he said.

According to the mayor, his protocol staff applied for authority to make the trip but received no response by the time he was to leave, so he left.

Garcia joined a delegation of Cebuanos headed by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.