OPENING SALVO:

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also says he will not interfere in the directive to ban backpacks inside the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño

The Sinulog Foundation Inc. and the Cebu City Government officially open the Sinulog grand celebration to honor the Holy Child Jesus with some fireworks at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Saying he doesn’t want the celebration to be politicized, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña ordered the removal of tarpaulins of any candidate who will use the Sinulog to gain mileage.

“I don’t want to politicize the Sinulog. It’s for our own good. But I’m giving the order that all these tarpaulins will be removed, any senator who is trying to project something,” Osmeña told reporters Thursday, Jan. 10.

The mayor said there are already those who sent feelers that they want to join the Sinulog.

National politicians are expected to troop to Cebu, a vote-rich city, before the campaign period.

Osmeña said he did not even invite his own brother, former senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, who is running for senator.

“I’ll tell you frankly. I did not invite my own brother. He is running for senator. I did not even ask him to come because I think it’s not in good taste to take advantage, except the President because he is the President. There are some who are interested to come. Of course, many are interested to come. It’s election time. They want to get attention,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte was invited to attend the Sinulog Grand Parade, but he will not be able to join the celebration due to other commitments.

Apart from removing the tarpaulins, Councilor Dave Tumulak earlier said that any politician who will join the grand parade on Jan. 20 will not be allowed to give speeches.

Tumulak, who also serves as the chairman of the executive committee of Sinulog Foundation Inc., said speeches should not be allowed so it won’t hamper the flow of the grand parade.

At present, Tumulak said there are four senatoriables who sent requests that they may be allowed to join the Sinulog activities inside the Cebu City Sports Center. /

PHOTO BY ALEX BADAYOS

SUNSTAR FOTO / ARNI ACLAO NO POLITICS. A dancer gives it all she’s got at the grand launching parade of the Sinulog Festival. Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña wants to keep the Sinulog Festival free of politics and ordered the removal of political tarpaulins.