AFTER almost two months of bickering, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan was finally able to occupy on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, the former office of Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Paz Radaza in City Hall.
His takeover came after Radaza’s things were removed from the office and were subject for inventory by the General Services Office.
Chan said the deadline he has set for Radaza to vacate the office has lapsed. He said Radaza continued to defy his orders despite the opinion of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), stating that the ordinance that provides an office space for Radaza at City Hall to serve as her district office was “ineffective and invalid.”
The DILG had said the ordinance could not be considered effective since it was not published in accordance with the Local Government Code.
Citing the same law, the DILG also stated that the power to allocate and assign offices at City Hall belongs to the mayor and not to the City Council.
Chan said he would use Radaza’s office in the meantime, while the Office of the Mayor undergoes renovation.
Now that he is holding office there, Chan said there is no longer any reason for Radaza’s staff to set up tables in City Hall beginning Wednesday, Aug. 28.
He urged them to cater to their clients in their district office instead.
“They have an office in Barangay Basak and they plan to put up an office in Barangays Pusok and Babag. It would be better for them to hold office there so they can better serve the Oponganons,” Chan added.
The tug-of-war over the office began soon after Chan assumed as city mayor on July 1.
Radaza said she needed the office so she can bring the services of her office closer to the people. Her office in City Hall, she said, had served as a one-stop shop since it is close to the different government offices.
But Chan said Radaza should vacate the office since there is a shortage of space in City Hall. (from GCM of Superbalita Cebu/LRC)