OFFICIALS of the City Government of Naga welcomed the P4.5 billion suit against them and five others for the landslide in Barangay Tina-an almost two months ago.

“Ila man pud nang katungod (It’s their right). The court is also the right venue to determine if the City government has a liability on what happened,” City of Naga Administrator Arthur Villamor said.

City of Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong also welcomed the complaint.

“We will make further comments once I am furnished a copy of the complaint,” she said.

Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) corporate communications head Chito Maniago said they will not issue any comment until they have a copy of the complaint.

At least 40 landslide victims filed a P4.5 billion environmental suit against the City of Naga, ALQC, Apo Cement Corp., Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Cebu Provincial Government.

The amount includes P1 million in damages for each of the 78 who died and the six who are missing. It asks for P1 million each for the 57 houses damaged, P100,000 for each of the seven injured persons who assisted in the filing of the complaint and P500,000 for each of the 8,262 displaced individuals. (JKV)