Tourism body wants 3 ‘Pancon’ organizers blacklisted

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

A CITY council committee has found organizers of the controversial Mr. and Ms. Pancontinental 2015 liable for putting the city in a bad light, and would endorse a proposed resolution to declare them “personae non gratae” in the city.

Councilor Lourdes Darimbang said the legislature’s tourism committee which she chairs would submit the proposed resolution to the city council when it resumes session on Jan. 4 next year.

The committee held liable organizers Mylene Miranda, Lourdes Stanley, and broadcast executive Sheryl Macale.

As personae non gratae, the three women would no longer be welcome to handle or organize any public event in the city, according to Darimbang.

She said the committee  concluded its investigation into the Mr. and Ms. Pancontinental controversy in Dec. 16.

The councilor said the event was a “sham,” noting that organizers failed to show  documents required by officials.

“The committee found out that the organizers did not have any accreditation or license to hold such an event.  I can simply say that the event was fraudulent. They brought the city’s image, and tourism industry to a disastrous situation. I think two (of the organizers were) were in cahoots with each other. There was no proper coordination with the city and accreditation from the DOT (Department of Tourism),” Darimbang said.

Darimbang said the committee has given the organizers enough time to present their side but only Macale attended the first meeting.

Macale, she said, also failed to attend the second and final meeting. Darimbang said Macale merely texted that she was not feeling well.

Darimbang said Miranda and Stanley  did not attend any of the meetings, and there was no communication or feeler from their end.

“They refused to attend despite the invitation. Insulto ang ilang gihimo sa committee,” said Darimbang, adding that they were “discourteous disrespectful.”

Darimbang said she would ask that the city council’s committee on laws and rules study the possibility of a lawsuit against the organizers.

“Much to my dismay nga kung duna na gani’y problema dili na dayun sila magpakita bisan gitabangan sila sa city government sa ilang kalihukan. Angayan lang nga isumbong sila for putting Cagayan de Oro in a bad light,” Darimbang said.