Monday, January 14, 2008 Sue me: Sara tells billboard maker By Ben O. Tesiorna
VICE Mayor Sara Z. Duterte dared a billboard company to sue her as she intends to have a billboard in SIR New Matina dismantled because this has been constructed without the permits from the City Government.
The young Duterte, who is acting mayor since her father City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has taken an indefinite leave of absence pending the audit of the People's Park, said in Sunday's "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" television program that the City Government has been warning the billboard company only identified as KDSA for the illegal construction, but the company has been snubbing the warnings issued by the city.
Duterte said the City Legal Office has advised her that the city can sue the company to court to answer for its refusal to heed government orders, but this will take time.
"Ingon-ani na lang, balihon na lang nato, ako na lang and inyong i-demanda (Let's just reverse the situation and so I am daring the billboard company to sue me instead)," she said as she intends to have the illegal billboard dismantled very soon.
"Unsa may gamit anang akong bana nga abogado (What's the use of my lawyer-husband)," Sara jokingly said.
As acting mayor, she said, she is ordering the billboard company to dismantle the illegal structure immediately. If within three days it is not dismantled, then it will have to be the City Engineer's Office, which will dismantle it.
If for some reason the CEO will not be allowed to go near the structure and thus will not be able to do as ordered, then the residents around the structure can go ahead and dismantle it themselves.
"Ibaligya ninyo ang bakal (Sell the steel)," Sara said.
This was the first time Sara hosted the City Government's television program and Dabawenyos who are hooked on the program have seen how the young Duterte can be as tough as her father, but without the cussing that the mayor is known for.
On the raid conducted by the national office of the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) several days ago, Sara expressed her objection on the decision of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to shoulder fines imposed by NTC against erring traders.
"Dili ko gusto ana kay nag-violate man gyud ang mga negosyante sa balaod. Pero ingon pud sa atong mayor na pre-emptive lang pud 'to iyang buhaton aron dili mapugos ug baligya ug laing butang ang mga gagmayng negosyante sama sa droga (I am opposed to my father's decision because the cellphone traders have violated the law. But the mayor said it is just a pre-emptive measure to prevent small businessmen from engaging in illegal business, like drugs)," the vice mayor said.
