Dinagat executives deny maltreating Jean Garcia

Sun.Star: SAN JOSE, Dinagat island -- Residents and officials here were surprised by reports that movie actress Jean Garcia allegedly had an unpleasant experience during the birthday celebration of Dinagat Governor Geraldine Ecleo-Villaroman last week. Still, residents and officials are not angry about what came out in the news since the place that Garcia was reported to have visited was only named Surigao del Norte and not specified as Dinagat islands. "However if our province was mentioned I think Miss Garcia owes us an apology because there was no truth to that news because God knows we tried to treat her well in whatever we can despite our material deficiencies," said Vice Governor Elvis Dela Merced. They said they only knew of the reports that Garcia was allegedly maltreated and taken hostage through text messages from relatives and friends. Dinagat Islands Provincial General Services Division Chief Helen Elago, who said she accompanied Garcia, and some people who escorted Garcia all the way to Surigao City aboard a government-owned motorized boat last Saturday evening denied the charges. "We treated her well at the most we can," Elago said as she described the reports as "absurd and irresponsible." Three other broadcasters from Surigao City radio stations who supposedly accompanied Garcia claimed there was no hostage taking. Villaroman admitted she invited the movie actress and some of her friends in Manila to visit Dinagat Islands and attend her October 5 birthday celebration in San Jose town. But the governor and the Ecleos here denied the movie actress came for an out-of-town show. They said Garcia was accompanied by her sister and three of their friends. They said Garcia was even videotaped last October 5 giving pleasant messages to the birthday celebrant she described "as a good friend from way back." But a person who claims to be Garcia's friend from Manila alleged that the whole case was a "gimmick" to promote her new movie. Villaroman said she will wait for Garcia to issue her statement before coming out with her reaction on the matter. - Sun.Star