AN AGREEMENT signed in the absence of Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., but which has been used as evidence in court by the Irisan barricaders has been disowned by the mayor’s office.

In a recent news briefing, Secretary to the Mayor Ronald Perez disowned the agreement signed by then Acting Vice Mayor Rocky Thomas Balisong and the barricaders who closed the entrance to the dumpsite last May.

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Perez said Balisong was not authorized by the mayor’s office to sign the agreement. Councilor Joel Alangsab’s name was typed on the document but he did not sign it.

Paragraph 3 of the agreement states the Irisan dumpsite will be used as transfer station for three months only or until August 29.

Shortly after the city’s centennial on September 1, the dumpsite was barricaded again, resulting to the non-collection of garbage for more than one week.

Perez said signing of this agreement did not pass approval by the mayor’s office.

In reaction, Balisong said his signing the agreement was approved by the mayor’s office.

He said he was authorized by then Acting Mayor Daniel Fariñas to sign the document because at that time, garbage collection was again stalled due to the barricade.

“I signed it because I meant business,” Balisong said, adding that based on an ocular inspection, he saw the imminent collapse of the retaining wall.

In a caucus last September 10, Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas said Balisong’s deployment was for the release of the trucks held inside the dumpsite compound as well as to appease the barricaders.

In a separate interview, Balisong said the agreement has basis. Aside from authority from the acting mayor, he recalled there was an administrative order (AO) signed by the mayor, which provided for the total closure of the dumpsite.

“Unless the AO is abrogated, the agreement stands,” Balisong said. “The ball of contention does not lie on paragraph 3 of the agreement but the mayor’s administrative order.”

The councilor said a better option which the mayor’s staff should have taken is to explain to the public the technicalities why it has to dump residual waste in the dumpsite and not point fingers.

Dumping of residual waste is reportedly necessary to cover recessed area of the mountain of garbage at Irisan.