Ocon begs Canoy for forgiveness, makes ‘amin’

COUNCILOR Zaldy Ocon found himself begging ex-mayor Reuben Canoy for forgiveness at city hall on Thursday morning.

The councilor, who caught public ire for berating and cussing at the 90-year-old ex-mayor in a wheelchair at the lobby of VIP Hotel months ago, apologized as he bowed and pressed his forehead on the old man’s hand as an honoring-gesture.

A video of the VIP Hotel incident went viral. Soon, Ocon found himself in the middle of a firestorm, and the subject of an administrative complaint.

The VIP Hotel spat stemmed from the broadcaster cum councilor’s decision not to air Canoy’s commentary “Perspective” during his DxCC program “Kuskos Batikos.” When Canoy asked Ocon about why he did that, the councilor flared up and badmouthed the aging former mayor.

Ocon said he told Canoy on Thursday, “I’m sorry, Sir,” and the former mayor supposedly replied, “Kalimti na lang to, Zaldy. Magtrabaho na ta. Let’s move on.”

Ocon also claimed that Canoy extended his right hand when the councilor initiated the “amin” or “mano” gesture.

On Thursday morning, Canoy was accompanied to city hall by his daughter Rhona to visit the wake of the late former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr..

Describing the incident as an “ambush,” the younger Canoy said Ocon rushed towards her and her father while they were about to leave city hall. She said Ocon gestured to her first, and then went straight to her father.

She said Ocon took the former mayor’s hand and apologized.

But the younger Canoy said what her father told Ocon was “Sagdi na, sagdi na, Zaldy.”

She said it was of no consequence to them, and that Ocon would still have to answer for his actions as a public official.

Forgiveness and the accountability of public officials are two different things, she said.

The younger Canoy has filed an administrative complaint against Ocon before Malacañang. (Nitz Arancon with Herbie Gomez)