‘Pancon’ showed signs of being a scam, says Darimbang

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

THE head of the city council’s committee on tourism yesterday said the just-concluded Mr. and Ms. Pancontinental pageant showed signs that it was nothing but a scam.

This came even as it found out during a hearing that the organizers do not have any accreditation or license to hold such an event.

The tourism committee chairperson, Councilor Lourdes Darimbang, said the organizers of the pageant–Mylene Miranda, Lourdes Stanley, and Sheryl Macale– failed to show documents which the committee sought.

“I can simply say that the event was fraudulent,” said Darimbang.

Of the three, only Macale appeared before the committee hearing.

Representatives of the regional office of the Department of Tourism, City Tourism Council chair Dorothy Pabayo, acting city administrator Dionnie Gersana, and city tourism officer Elmer Wabe attended the committee hearing.

Darimbang said they are now pursuing the investigation into the Pancontinental mess after they found out that irganizers were able to collect US$1 thousand from each of the pageant candidates.

“This is a classic case of how to stage an international beauty pageant without enough capital,” she said.

Darimbang said she also received information that the local organizer was not financially capable which may have been the reason why the 35 candidates were not afforded the promised five-star accomodation.

“They brought the city’s image and tourism industry to a disastrous situation. I think two (of the organizers were) in cahoots with each other. There was no proper coordination with the city and accreditation from the DOT,” Darimbang said.

“Nanghugas og kamot si Macale,” she said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District said the House investigation into the controversy would be held in the city soon.

Rodriguez said the House committee on tourism would summon Miranda, Stanley, and Macale so they could explain why they should not be penalized for the fiasco.