By LITO RULONA
Correspondent
THE House committee on tourism is set to start an investigation into the controversial Mr. and Ms. Pancontinental pageant this week.
Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District said the committee chairman, Rep. Rene Relampagos of Bohol, scheduled the start of the inquiry on Dec. 17 at the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (Must).
The House committee investigation is based on a resolution filed by Rodriguez and his brother Maximo Jr., representative of Abante Mindanao, to make the pageant’s organizers explain why they should not be held liable for the fiasco.
Rodriguez said the committee expects pageant organizers Mylene Miranda, Lourdes Stanley, and Sheryl Macale to face congressmen.
He said the committee has also invited tourism officials in the city and Misamis Oriental, and the regional office of the Department of Tourism.
“Gihangyo nako ang mga organizer nga motunga aron madunggan gyud nato ilang version og uban nga contestants especially those representing the Philippines,” Rodriguez said.
He said the committee also sent an invitation to New Zealand model Nicole Harding who complained about the shabby treatment the contestants received from organizers here. Harding quit the pageant, flew out of the city, and posted her complaint on her Facebook page.
“We sent notices to the New Zealand Embassy to facilitate, and to let Harding come during the investigation,” Rodriguez said.
He said the committee would determine what prompted Harding to make disparaging statements not only against the pageant organizers but also against the city.
Rodriguez said Harding may need to recant her statements against the city, and make a public apology.
“Ang problema naa sa mga organizer tungod kay ngano gapatuga-tuga sila nga dili man diay nila kaya. International competition, and then gibutang lang nila sa Budgetel. Pageant organizers should be accredited by DOT that would check if they have the financial capability or not,” he said.
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