Monday, July 14, 2008 Mayor to Queensland owner: Stop or face arrest By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of Queensland owner Teodorico Adarna if construction and development activity in the area along Times Beach in Matina keeps going Monday.
Duterte said he received reports that development in the area is ongoing despite the cease and desist order (CDO) issued by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) for the said project.
It was learned that PRA officer Andrea Sto. Dominggo, who came all the way from Manila, inspected the Queensland area recently and saw for herself the violation made by Queensland management to PRA's CDO.
But after Sto. Domingo left, heavy equipment work continued at the reclamation area.
Duterte said he and Adarna had earlier agreed that the City Government would support Queensland application for permits provided that the management would temporarily stop their construction in the area.
"Apparently si Adarna wala mituo nako (Adarna refused to listen to me). I'd like to remind him of the laws of the land. If by Monday, work in Queensland continues, Adarna will be arrested, detained and investigated for violation of the law," Duterte said.
Duterte said he is not against development of the area, in fact he even thank Adarna for developing the area into a tourist attraction. Violating the law is, however, not acceptable as a means for the end.
The Queensland development of the area has been hogging the headlines for some years now as development continued non-stop despite being cited for not having the government permits for all these.
The mayor said it is not only Adarna that's violating national and local laws in the area. He warned all those involved of dire consequence if they keep on snubbing the law.
