|
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Tomas to councilors: You’re not my boss
Asserting his superiority over the Cebu City Council, Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday asked the council to come up with their official stand on the proposal to swap lots with Cebu Province.
While he admits that he can’t enter into a land swap agreement with Capitol without the council’s approval, he does not need the authority of the body to discuss it with the governor.
Osmeña also said he no longer plans to discuss with the councilors and the vice mayor the proposal to turn over the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) to Capitol as part of the lot swap package.
“I want to make it clear that I don’t need their authority to talk about it. I’m really pissed at that kind of attitude that I have to clear it with them. I can’t finalize it without their approval but I don’t need their authority to talk about it,” he told reporters yesterday.
“I don’t have to talk to them about anything. If I want to, I will, but the City Council is not my boss. I’m their boss,” he said.
Official stand
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia earlier said the Province will not pursue negotiations on the land swap until the council comes up with an official stand on the matter.
In a news conference yesterday, Osmeña said he believes the governor’s statement is addressed to the council and not to him.
“I already talked to the Province about the land swap, but ang council nag grandstand. Sakit kaayo na ilang gibuhat, now everybody is affected... They have to come up with a stand. Pero kung bright sila, sila na lang,” he added.
In Barangay Luz, residents occupying Province-owned lots are expecting to be served a notice of eviction by the Province.
They are now leaving it to the mayor to work out a compromise agreement with the governor, Barangay Captain Nemesio Pagador said.
Meanwhile, the residents are preparing for any fire that may occur in the barangay.
Pagador said the residents fear a fire will occur and residents might not be able to rebuild their homes, like what happened to occupants of a provincial lot in Barangay Pahina Central, where a bus terminal used to stand.
On guard
Pagador also said in a radio dyRF interview that he has organized residents in the barangay to take turns guarding overnight to prevent fire.
This statement irked Governor Garcia. She ordered Provincial Attorney Marino Martinquilla to ask the radio station for a copy of the tape, for the possible filing of a case against Pagador.
“Is he accusing Capitol? Let him come up with hard evidence and we will deal with him accordingly. Dili niya yama-yamaan ug yaga-yagaan ang Probinsya kay di siya bugoy ug standby sa kilid-kilid. We are responsible for what we say or do, more so if you are an elected public official,” Garcia said.
Capitol has sent notice to vacate to residents of lots 1, 2 and 3 in Barangay Luz who failed to pay for the socialized housing lots covered by the Provincial Ordinance 93-1.
Luz residents still plan to seek the help of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal to mediate, but Garcia already visited the cardinal last Saturday and she said the cardinal does not want to intervene in the issue. (LCR/MBG)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 23, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
