Letter from a Reader: Reader Refutes Allegations of Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez

Image courtesy of www.taclobanhotels.com

Hello Mike! I just want to share with you the facts about your post on Tacloban Mayor Romualdez. I am writing to correct several inaccuracies and to set the records straight following the days before typhoon Yolanda hit our city.

Monday. There was already warning. People knew about the possibility of storm surge given the wind speed.

Tuesday was the same thing.

Wednesday. The city administrator met with barangay captains in preparation for Yolanda. CDRRMC, presided by the city administrator, convened in the afternoon with all department heads & others involved. Preventive evacuation was in place.

Thursday. It was a warm, sunny day. It was the calm before the storm. Forced evacuation was enforced. By 3pm, evacuation center was full.

Friday. Yolanda came by early morning. It was like being inside a big washing machine, only much worse, as we did not know which direction we were being blown away. Storm surge was expected but never thought it to go 8-12 ft sometimes 15 ft high.

All through out that week, Mayor Romualdez was MIA aka Missing in Action!
He was only seen Thursday afternoon to early evening upon the arrival of Secretaries Roxas & Gazmin & attended PDRRMC meeting with City Administrator.

I only found out that he was at Patio Victoria, their family beach resort 5 days after Yolanda. Prior to that, there were stories circulating that he & his family were missing because of the damage to their house. There were reports too that they were actually in their high rise building in the city downtown.

What I'm trying to say is that Mayor Romualdez is publicity hungry & he will do anything to get publicity at the expense of his suffering people.

In one of the meetings last Wednesday, CDRRMC was reminded of the many warnings and how these precautionary measures can be executed properly. In all fairness, everybody took them to heart and listened - but NOT Mayor Romualdez - because he was NOT around.

No one could have been prepared enough for Yolanda & it angers me that instead of commandeering his ship, our Mayor chose to squeeze blood from this tragedy in order to push for his PR stint.

We have a long road ahead to rebuild our beautiful city. Armed with the strong Filipino spirit, we will rise again!

Tindog Tacloban!

Truthfully yours,

Meldy

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