“I think my resignation was the only way to avoid bloodshed.” –Eduard Shevardnadze

Following a much-publicized quarrel with Iloilo City lone district Rep. Jerry Treñas, Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) Vice President Marissa Segovia was right to tender her irrevocable resignation. Some may claim she was carried by emotions and made a “spur of the moment” decision to quit but it’s difficult to fix glass that has been cracked (especially when the riff is tainted with political undertones).

The congressman reportedly lashed out at the former IDFI official during a recent Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, where he blamed her for not receiving an invitation to last month’s Iloilo Dinagyang Festival. The two are not strangers – they were good friends. When Treñas was Iloilo City mayor, the pair worked on both achieving IDFI goals and supporting the Iloilo Business Club, where Segovia is also an executive.

The former IDFI official did not issue a statement following her resignation.

If not for politics, there would have been no heated confrontation and nobody would have raised a whimper about allegedly being left out of an important event.

Treñas is hoping for a return to the mayor’s office in the upcoming midterm elections and, if successful, it would be difficult for Segovia to manage IDFI affairs with her “tormentor” at the helm. He may even use his power and influence to scrutinize the foundation’s financial records, which she would have to offer a response. The mental and emotional stress may not be necessary (or good) for the former foundation official, who is highly respected in the business community.

Meanwhile, nobody has owned up to the congressman not receiving an invitation.

IDFI President Ramon Cua Locsin offered finger pointing and offensive justification, claiming the foundation should not be held accountable to sidestepping VIPs and that such responsibility had been earlier delegated to the city mayor.

In a statement distributed to media, Locsin stressed: “We believe that we have discharged our duties fairly and judiciously for the successful conduct of the Dinagyang Festival and we hope that this will end the controversy raised by those whose self-interest could trivialize the achievements of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival and IDFI. IDFI has always acted with good faith in dealing with all partners of the festival. This is a major factor for the high trust rating of the public in IDFI. This is also the basis of Segovia’s statement during one of her interviews that Congressman Treñas was invited in the festivities. The city mayor was also consistent in his interviews that everyone was welcome.”/WDJ