Moreno draws flak over Lumbia stand

By LITO RULONA and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents

THE militant League of Filipino Students (LFS) yesterday hurled brickbats at Mayor Oscar Moreno, criticizing him over his pronouncement that he was open to allowing the US military to build facilities at the Lumbia airport following the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).

The criticisms came a day after the city council voted to shelve discussions on a proposal to support a House bill filed by 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. The bill seeks the conversion of the Lumbia airport into a commercial center.

The Edca allows the US military to set up its storage facilities, and station its personnel in places like the Lumbia airport which is being used by Philippine Air Force.

Kristine Cabardo, LFS chairperson for northern Mindanao, said “We are dismayed and enraged by the pronouncement of Mayor Oscar Moreno,” and compared him to late 19th century politicians like cabinet secretary Felipe Buencamino Sr. whom Gen. Antonio Luna supposedly abhorred.

Quoting a line from the biographical movie “Heneral Luna,” Cabardo also compared Moreno to a “virgin who believes in the promise of love of a woman of illepute,” and criticized him as someone with “historical amnesia” who forgot how Filipino heroes fought during the Filipino-American War.

“Let us never forget the Battle of Cagayan led by Gen. Nicolas Capistrano, the Battle of Macahambus cave commanded by Col. Velez, and the Battle of Agusan Hill by Captain Vincent Roa and many more battles against the US colonizers.

“We are reminding Mayor Moreno of our history if indeed he is going through historical amnesia. If not, then clearly we have in our midst once again a lackey of the United States parroting the lines of the Liberal Party,” Cabardo added.

Over the weekend, Moreno said he was open to the idea of allowing the American military to use the Lumbia airport on condition that it would not compromise city hall’s plan to develop the rural village into a commercial area as part of an expansion program.

Cabardo accused Moreno and his political allies in the administration Liberal Party for they supposed “display of puppetry to the US.”

The LFS warned of gross human rights violations and environmental degradation if the government allowed the US military to build facilities at the old airport.

Cabardo said, “Edca will be more detrimental than beneficial if there are US troops stationed at our doorsteps… We challenge Moreno and his administration to reconsider his decision and should always put into consideration the interests of the Cagayanon who might be at risk…”

In a related development, the city council voted on Monday to defer discussions on the proposal to support efforts aimed at developing the Lumbia airport into a commercial center.

This came after Councilor Roger Abaday sought support for Rep. Rodriguez’s House bill that seeks the conversion of Lumbia airport into a commercial area.

Abaday proposed that the city council asked the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and Civil Aviation Authority to donate the 547-hectare Lumbia property to city hall so it could be developed.

Voting in favor to defer were councilors Adrian Barba, Alden Bacal, Lourdes Darimbang, President Elipe,  Nadya Elipe, Alam Lim, Dometilo Acenas, and Edna Dahimo.

Abaday’s only ally in his proposal was  Councilor Enrico Salcedo. Their partymate, Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr., presided over the session.

The city council referred Abaday’s proposal to the committees on engineering, police, fire and public safety,  and commerce and trade.

“Dili man mahimo nga  i-develop sa city hall ang Lumbia airport karon kay ang title ana nga yuta ila man sa DOTC ug Caap,” said Abaday.

Abaday said he was not opposed to the use of the Lumbia airport for US military facilities as long as its surroundings would be turned into a commercial hub.