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Monday, October 27, 2003
Seized cement in Sipalay legal: Montilla
SIPALAY City Mayor Oscar Montilla cleared the two port security guards from any liability for allegedly firing at the vehicle of Barangay Maricalum village head Ulysses Hisona last Wednesday.
"They are just doing their job. Besides, it is beyond their (Hisona and companions) area of jurisdiction," said Montilla of Hisona's claims that the guards fired at his vehicle while he was trying to ascertain whether the shipment of cement at Campomanes Bay was legal or not.
Montilla, on the other hand, said the docking of M/V Jan Dean from where the controversial 14,000 bags of cement worth more than P1.7 million were unloaded was "legal".
Hisona earlier filed a complaint alleging that the docking of the barge was "illegal" as supported by a Campomanes Bay ordinance.
Hisona said that the port allows only the following: docking of light commercial passenger transport vessels, docking of Bantay Dagat patrol boats and water refilling boats.
Montilla admitted that a portion of the cement shipment was intended for the city's road widening project.
He disclosed that the barge came from Cebu City while the bags of cement were bought from APO Cement.
"The main reason why I permitted the barge to dock at the port was for the city to avail itself of lesser expenses. It is cheaper than hauling them from a Bacolod City port," said Montilla.
According to Nathaniel Celis, Sipalay's public information officer, the city procured only 5,000 bags of cement.
Investigation disclosed that Hisona entered the port, as he wanted to talk to the ship's captain but the guards refused to let them in.
Hisona, however, parked his vehicle inside the port and without any provocation, the two security guards fired their 12-gauge shotguns at their car.
The guards, said Hisona, shouted at them saying, "It was the order of the City Mayor not to let you enter this area!"
Montilla, however, also denied this allegation saying that he never ordered the guards to prohibit Hisona's group from entering the port.
"Everybody is welcome to enter (the port) provided they have the permit and a valid purpose," Montilla said. CCD
(October 25, 2003 issue)
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