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Sunday, March 16, 2003
Case be referred first to Lim, says Laforteza
THE Officer-In-Charge of the City Legal Office (CLO) denied he is uninterested in filing an appropriate case against an unidentified person allegedly confirmed to have sold several lots along the shorelines of Bonuan Binloc, which belongs to the 72-hectare Tondaligan National Park.
Lawyer Roy Laforteza, CLO officer-in-charge, made the denial in an interview, but he admitted that he was asked by Tondaligan Park Administration (TPA) Head Juanito F. Lagao to file an appropriate case against a certain Benig Garcia a week ago.
Lagao's record show that Garcia is a resident of Bonuan Binloc, and that he (Garcia) has been reportedly confirmed as the mastermind in the illegal selling of lot rights within the jurisdiction of the park for the past years.
Lagao said his confirmation of Garcia as the culprit in the illegal selling of lots within the jurisdiction of the park was through an investigation he conducted from several witnesses, as well as the confirmation from the officers of the Binloc Fishermen's Association.
However, Laforteza clarified he asked Lagao first to verify the reported alleged mastermind, who may only be a fictitious name or an alias.
Laforteza also asked the TPA head to furnish him the exact address of Garcia, of which as of press time is unknown. This would enable his office or the proper authorities to send its notices directly to Garcia, in the event the case does prosper, he said.
"What's more important here is the sworn statements of witnesses against the suspected person. They should also appear in order for them to execute affidavits that would build a strong case against the suspect," Laforteza said.
He clarified that certain procedures in filing a case have to be followed to make it prosper.
In further justifying his stand over the filing of the appropriate case as requested by Lagao, Laforteza added that there must be an authority from the city mayor.
"I suggest that he (Lagao) submit his recommendations first to the mayor, and in the same manner, the mayor orders me to file the necessary formal complaint in the proper agency," pointed out Laforteza.
Laforteza said if he ever files the suit, it shall appear in the name of the city government, and the mayor represents the City Government as its chief executive.
However, he vowed to assist and cooperate with the good intentions of Lagao, to once-and-for-all stop such illegal activity going within the proclaimed national park.
Mayor Benjamin Lim has given orders to the TPA to strengthen its monitoring activities of illegal activities within the jurisdiction s of the Tondaligan park, that include the demolition of illegal structures and shanties built by unscrupulous individuals and squatters.
Lim has envisioned the 72-hectare national park as a tourism destination in the city, with plans of even establishing a convention center soon.
A redevelopment plan has already been prepared for the first stage of the park's redevelopment, set to be implemented immediately upon availability of additional funds from the Philippine Tourism Authority and the Department of Tourism.
Earlier, Lagao said Speaker Jose de Venecia hailed the TPA's move of demolishing illegal structures at the national park.
He expressed optimism that with this, De Venecia would assist in seeking provision of funds for the re-development of the park. DRZ
(March 16, 2003 issue)
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