Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Carillo assures Lahug of equal treatment
CEBU City Councilor Gerardo Carillo yesterday assured his law school classmate, Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos, that Lahug will receive equal treatment once the City Council convenes to formally hear its boundary conflict with neighboring Barangay Luz.
He also denied that the report of the committee of three, which the City Council approved last week, favored Luz in adopting the recommendations of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).
“(What) we were just saying is that what the CPDO is saying could be a basis for the delineation. That’s the reason why we are requiring parties to substantiate their claims, which is part of due process,” he said.
Evidence
“Otherwise, we could have just made an ordinance (approving Luz’s claim). We wanted them (Luz and Lahug) to present evidence,” he said.
Carillo gave the report of the committee of three, with him and City Councilors Roberto Cabarrubias and Raul Alcoseba as members.
Paragraph number 2 of the report’s “Observations and Comments” stated that “the report of the CPDO entitled ‘An Analysis of the Boundary Disagreements in Certain Barangays in Cebu City...’ is hereby adopted part of this committee report, particularly in the findings and recommendations of the CPDO with respect to the Barangay Luz and Lahug boundary dispute’.”
“The recommendations of the CPDO would effectively place landmark establishments Grand Convention Center and Waterfront (Cebu City) Hotel (and Casino) as within the jurisdiction of Barangay Luz,” added paragraph number 4.
Adopted stand
In a separate interview, north district City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem said he was under the impression that by approving the committee report, the council was assenting to Luz’s request, which is to have the disputed area placed within its territory.
“The (committee) report adopted the CPDO observations and recommendations, which stated that Grand Con(vention) and Waterfront belong to Luz. So, since we approved the report, then we adopted that stand,” he said.
Beneficial
But Carillo said the report did not in any way favor any party, saying “we are just trying to see which is more beneficial for the people in the place.”
For that reason, he said, Luz officials were directed to submit to the council “written declarations and/or sworn statements of the people residing in the disputed area.”
The council required documents to be submitted by Luz and Lahug, the CPDO, and the City Assessor’s Office.
Once the documents are submitted, the council will furnish copies, along with Luz’s measure requesting settlement of the conflict, to Lahug, which must answer within 15 days of receipt.
After which, the council will set a hearing date to formally have Luz and Lahug present evidence to support each of its claims.
“Whatever will the decision be of the City Council, Barangay Lahug has a right to appeal it with the regular court,” Carillo said.
He said council presiding officer Vice Mayor Michael Rama and the city councilors “have a mind of their own” so that she could expect them to think independently on the issue.
Under the Local Government Code, the council has 60 days from the date a boundary dispute is referred to the body for resolution.
If the council cannot do so, it should send a certification to the contending parties to that effect. After which, it has 60 more days to hear and settle the conflict. (RHM)
