By LITO RULONA Correspondent COUNCILOR Zaldy Ocon on Monday claimed he was hospitalized because of the casino issue even as he denied that he decided on what to do with Limketkai and Sons Inc.’s request for an endorsement on his own. Ocon, chairman of the city council’s games and amusement board, said he felt embarrassed as a result of a Gold Star Daily report that quoted another councilor as criticizing his move to call for a public hearing allegedly without the consent of the city council or Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy. Ocon did not name the other councilor but he was obviously referring to Councilor George Goking who earlier said that “Siya (Ocon) ra ang nagboot-boot sa pag-assign sa iyang committee sa dihang nag-apply ang Limketkai Center sa gambling casino. Foul na.” He said he decided to deliver a special report on Monday because “naulawan ako sa tibuok Mindanao,” citing what he said was this paper’s wide readership and reach. The criticism, Ocon said, made his blood pressure and his sugar level shoot up, resulting in his brief hospital confinement. “Lain baya ning diabetic kay kung saputon ka motaas ang imong sugar level. So admit ko pero wala ko matulog sa hospital, pero admit lang gihapon,” he said. In the news report, Councilor Goking warned that any attempt to rush committee work on the application of Limketkai and Sons Inc. to open a casino in the city could backfire, and could delay the city council’s action on it. Goking also said the public hearing called by Ocon did not have the green light of Vice Mayor Uy or other members of the city council. Before the city council, Ocon explained that he sent notices to concerned officials and stakeholders. “Gipasa lamang kadto kanako kay ang halangdong vice mayor tua man sa gawas sa nasud kay naa may importante nga gi-atiman. At that time, ako ang nahimong... acting in capacity as vice-mayor... mao nga gipasa sa secretary og akong gipirmahan,” Ocon said. He said it was he, being the acting vice mayor, who referred the Limketkai request to his own committee. “Mao nga wala ako nagbuot-buot, og kung dunay gusto ani nga committee, akong ihatag kay labing tinuod galabad akong ulo ani. Dili lang ako insultohon nga gabuot-buot ako kay ako maulawan sa publiko nga walay respito sa bisi-mayor sa dakbayan,” he said.