Ryan Archival Villaflores, involved in Sinulog activities but has no employment records with Cebu City

Local

RYAN Archival Villaflores, the man linked to a controversy involving journalists during the Sinulog 2026 Grand Parade, currently holds no employment or official engagement with the Cebu City Government, according to the city’s Human Resource Development Office (HRDO).

In a letter dated March 2, 2026, HRDO head Henry Tomalabcad informed the Cebu City Council that Villaflores has had no appointment, contract, or other employment with the city since January 1, 2026.

Office records confirm he has received no such engagement this year.

“Based on the official records of this Office, as of this date, no appointment, contract, or any form of employment engagement has been issued to Mr. Ryan Archival Villaflores for the period beginning January 1, 2026 up to the present,” Tomalabcad said.

The clarification was made in response to 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 17-2261-2026, which directed the HRDO to determine Villaflores’ employment status.

The council sought to verify whether he was serving as a job order worker, casual employee, or held any other form of appointment or engagement with the Cebu City Government.

The inquiry stemmed from an incident during the Sinulog 2026 Grand Parade, where Villaflores was accused of berating accredited members of the media at the media lounge inside the Cebu City Sports Center.

The resolution requesting clarification was introduced by Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover and seconded by Councilor Harry Eran during the council’s regular session on January 27, 2026. The measure was approved unanimously.

According to the resolution, journalists covering the parade had raised concerns about the condition of the media lounge, including the absence of internet connectivity, unclean surroundings, and what lawmakers described as an “unpresentable working area.”

Council members said these conditions directly affected media practitioners assigned to report on the event.

The Sinulog Grand Parade is one of the country’s largest religious and cultural festivals, attracting national and international coverage.

“The press serves as a vital partner of government in ensuring transparency, information dissemination, and public accountability, and should be treated with respect and professionalism at all times,” the resolution stated.

Lawmakers also asked the Office of the Mayor and HRDO to provide details of Villaflores’ possible engagement with the city government, including copies of appointment papers, contracts, or any authority allowing him to act on behalf of the city.

The council also requested information on his duties, responsibilities, compensation, funding source, and the office or official to whom he may have been assigned.

In addition, the resolution noted reports that a person bearing the same name had previously been declared persona non grata by the Local Government Unit of Liloan over alleged misconduct on social media.

Council members said this information needed verification to determine whether it involved the same individual linked to the Cebu City Government.

The council also cited online complaints and criticism circulating after the Sinulog incident, warning that such reports, whether accurate or not, could affect public trust in the city government if left unaddressed.

As of this writing, reporters have reached out to Mayor Nestor Archival for comment regarding the HRDO’s clarification, but he has yet to respond.(TGP)