Ex-councilor dares Moreno to walk the talk by issuing demolition order

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

A FORMER councilor on Saturday came to the defense of Barangay 33 chairman Conrad Lim, challenging Mayor Oscar Moreno to issue a demolition order against the village official over a fenced reclamation area in Lapasan that has prevented the public works department from finishing a coastal road project.

Ex-councilor President Elipe argued that the disputed reclamation area in Lapasan that was developed by Lim can be subjected to expropriation proceedings even without government permits or land title.

Elipe is one of the councilors who approved a city council resolution in 2008 that endorsed Lim’s foreshore lease application to the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA). Eventually, Lim secured a PRA amnesty, a document granting release from punishment for undertaking the reclamation project without the government’s permission.

Over Magnum Radio, the former councilor dared Moreno to issue a demolition order and destroy structures on the disputed property if he thinks it was illegally acquired.

Elipe criticized Moreno over his pronouncements about the controversy without acting on it. He said the mayor has not done anything to resolve it.

“Gihagit ko kamo, padala dayun sa inyung mga bulldozers gikan city hall. Maayo ra man kamo sa interview sa newspaper og radio pero walay nahimo,” he said.

Elipe cited Article 3, Section 9 of the Constitution that provides that no private property can be taken for public use without just compensation.

He also cited a clause in the Bill of Rights that no one should be deprived of “…property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

“Kung naay proyekto, dili angayan kuhaon nga dili ma-settle ang rights sa usa ka tawo,” Elipe said.

City hall’s position however is that the Lapasan reclamation area is part of the foreshore and therefore, a public domain.

Elipe said, “Mayor, atong klarohon nga bisan wala kay titulo basta kay maigo ka sa project sa gobyerno bayaran ikaw for just compensation. Ayaw pagpataka og istorya because expropriation proceedings is (sic) not only exempted (sic) to those who had (sic) permits or title.”

Elipe also criticized the DPWH over its alleged failure to address the right-of-way issue before they started the coastal road project.

“Siyam na ka tuig ang coastal road. Inyu unta kini nga gi-plastar. Ayha na dayun ninyo gi-pressure ang tawo nga naa nay dalan padulong sa ilang balay. That should not be the case,” he said. (with a report from nitz arancon)