ONE of the seven concerned individuals, who plan to sue the board of directors of Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD), said they have found "good samaritans" who committed financial support for their legal move.

Barangay 23 chairman Jaime Joshua Frias II said a businessman from Canada and local businessmen have expressed support to file a case against COWD.

Frias, however, refused to reveal names of the "financial backers" pending the formal filing of charges.

"We are holding a fundraising and it's got positive response so far," he said.

Frias is among the seven concerned persons who are suspicious of the contract signing between the water district and Metro Pacific Water Investments Corporation on the bulk water supply, as well as the dismissal of COWD general manager Engineer Rachel Beja.

Ben Contreras, the leader of the group, said the seven individuals aka “Magnificent 7” include Bob Ocio, Jaime Frias, Ronah Factura Muhi, Renato Gica Tibon, Vissea Curioso and Zenaida Cudira.

Contreras said he does not personally know Curioso and Cudira who only volunteered to join the legal move.

Eduardo Montalvan, chairman of COWD’s board of directors, meanwhile said the critics are "most welcome to file the case" as they are prepared to face them.

Since MetroPac became the bulk water supplier of COWD, criticisms of the contract have been nonstop and legal actions have since been mounting.