MANILA, Philippines – “Busy Presidente Mar Roxas Nasaan Ka?” 

These words were printed on stickers and T-shirts distributed Monday, August 5, at a forum meant to discuss the progress of the investigation into the Cagayan de Oro blast.

Philippine Medical Association (PMA) president Leo Olarte said the paraphernalia were a form of protest by the association, which had a hard time reaching Interior Secretary Mar Roxas after the explosion.

“Busy Presidente” was a play on the words vice president, the position that Roxas sought but failed to bag in the 2010 elections.

“Doctors were really hoping to talk to DILG Secretary Mar Roxas. We wanted to talk to him too because our convention was supposed to be a two-day convention in Cagayan de Oro,” he said.

“It was July 26 and July 27. So we were hoping to talk to Mar Roxas to get assurance that the second day would be peaceful and we would ensure the security of the doctors.”

The bombing happened on Friday night, July 26.

He continued: “But in the many times we tried to call Secretary Mar Roxas, we could not reach him. Until now, we still cannot contact him so we were really saddened we could not talk to our Busy Presidente.”

“So on the second day, we canceled the convention because we could not get an assurance on the security of our doctors…. He really did not respond [to texts],” Olarte said.

Olarte said he even tried to find Roxas in his hometown when he went there for a visit. “Yesterday I came from Roxas City and I wanted to see if he was there. I went to Kalibo by land and still I really couldn’t find him.”

Cagayan De Oro City was rocked by an explosion a week and a half ago after a still-unidentified person left an improvised explosive device concealed in a black bag on a black monoblock chair outside Kyla’s Bistro. The blast left 8 dead and 46 injured.

Most of the victims were doctors and pharmaceutical salesmen who had just attended a national convention of lung-disease specialists at the nearby the Grand Caprice hotel, also at the Limketkai center.

Among those who died were 2 doctors, members of the PMA.

No angle or motive has been determined.

No calls?

But Roxas said he had not received any contact from the PMA.

“For the record, I and my office have not received any texts nor any communication of any kind from PMA nor victims regarding wanting to see me,” he said in a text message.

He also responded to the question plastered on the sticker.

“And in answer to where was I, I was there by the next day in less than 24 hours and providing guidance and direction to the efforts,” he said.

Cagayan Rep Rufus Rodriguez, who was present at the forum, was also quick to jump to Roxas’ defense. He said Roxas had actually made it clear the PMA could continue with their convention.

“I was with Secretary Roxas and precisely when we were there, he already assured the association of his position that precisely they could continue the next day,” he said.

“He already ordered [Region 10 police director Catalino] Rodriguez to make sure there was more police visibility because he was right there, the day after it happened,” he said and added police were ordered to cancel their leaves.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director Lina Sarmiento also sided with Roxas.

“The Secretary already met with Chief PNP Alan Purisima last Wednesday and even if I’m not part of Sec Roxas’ staff I know he is very busy with the transfer of informal settlers from the San Juan River to San Jose Belmonte, Bulacan,” she said.

Sarmiento also offered to give the PMA her number so the doctors could course “any concerns” through her.

Back track

Despite Rodriguez and Sarmiento’s defense, however, Olarte insisted the PMA called Roxas “because we wanted to meet with him personally to discuss the conditions.”

But Olarte suddenly changed his tune a few hours later. In the afternoon, he denied the T-shirts and stickers were “endorsed by the PMA.”

“They were given by dead victims’ relatives,” he said. “They told me they wanted to talk to Sec Mar Roxas immediately after the bombings but they failed after several tries.”

The text message contradicted his previous statements, as well as the account of the wife of at least one victim.

Imelda Agustin, widow of Dr. Marciano Agustin III who was one of the fatalities from the blast – and the only relative of a victim present at the forum – told Rappler she had not been in touch nor tried to reach out to authorities, trusting them to do their job. – Rappler.com