Tuesday, September 04, 2007 Judge promises to decide on aerial ban case soon By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
REGIONAL Trial Court Judge Renato A. Fuentes vowed to do his best to come up with the decision on the constitutionality of the city's ban on aerial spray by September 23, the end of the three-month suspension of the ordinance, but that's all he can promise.
“Tao lang ako. Hindi ko masasabi na that date talaga kasi alam niyo na, marami pa 'yan. Mag-submit pa sila ng mga (I’m only human. I cannot say it be on that date because, you know, there many things to be done. They will still submit) memorandums, this will be a lengthy trial," Fuentes said in an interview.
He said he allowed five witnesses to testify for the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, for the Davao City government and the interveners.
"I only allowed five kasi they have given me mga 25 witnesses to testify, e hindi pwede 'yun. I gave them schedules, and I even have to reset other cases to give priority to this case," Fuentes said.
Fuentes scheduled the presentation of witnesses on September 10 and 11, for the PBGEA, September 12 and 13 for the city government, and September 17 and 18 for the interveners.
Meanwhile, Fuentes expressed his disappointment after the Mediation Board failed to move an inch on the case.
"The mediators are ineffective because they have failed to come up with the settlement. This gives me a lot of work to do because both parties stood firm on their terms," Fuentes said.
PBEA and the city is now on the pre-trial of merits and the presentation of evidences.
