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Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Councilors insist David should be destroyed
CITY Councilor Nilo G. Abellera said Monday that he is still in favor of demolishing the controversial David statue the management of Queensland had built on a public land at Matina Aplaya.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during his Sunday weekly program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" already said that he could not order the demolition of only one statue and yet not touch the 300 illegal structures in the vicinity.
Duterte stressed that he could not single out the owner of Queensland Lodge and then leave the other structures in the area to stay.
The mayor earlier said that if he would demolish the statue, he might as well demolish the rest of the structures that might cause economic crisis for the families that would be affected by the demolition.
But, Abellera thinks otherwise. "I hope it will not stay there," Abellera said in an interview.
Abellera said that it was already proven that the statue was constructed illegally since the area of which the statue stands is owned by the City Government and not by Queensland management.
"If we allow Adarna who is very rich, what will prevent other rich people like him or those richer than him to occupy that area," Abellera asked.
City Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad for her part said that the mayor has his own reasons based on a humane application of the letter of the law.
"I would respect that. But that would not change the status that the reclaimed area where the statue stands is illegal and must be demolished including the statue standing thereon. That has always been my position," Trinidad stressed.
Meanwhile, City Legal Officer Melchor V. Quitain in a separate interview said that the issue should be put to rest since the mayor already expressed his decision on the statue.
"He (Duterte) has already spoken and that's it," Quitain said.
He said, "Meantime, let us be happy and forget our worries and enjoy the Christmas season with our children and families even if for a few days in the year, that would be most welcome for all." (BRQ)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 20, 2005 issue)
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