Ouano says only court can make him testify

PROVINCIAL Board (PB) member Thadeo Ouano said he will only testify on the Balili property case if there’s a court order requiring him to do so.

In last Monday’s PB session Ouano said his visit to the Balili property last week focused only on whether there were any “hazardous holes” in the site. He chairs the PB environment committee.

“If it’s necessary, I will comply but I was there to only verify the buslot (holes),” Ouano said.

The PB member went to the area with staffers of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and local media.

PB member Arleigh Sitoy earlier asked Ouano to testify on whether the controversial Balili property was reclaimed on orders of suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Ouano was earlier asked by the board to verify if there were holes in the property large enough for a goat to fall through.

Photos of his visit were presented in last Monday’s session.

Sitoy pointed to the picture where Ouano stood at the proposed coal ash site.

He said there was a visible lump in the site that was now filled with stagnant water.

Ouano said there’s no cause for alarm since there was no coal ash dumped there. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus