Probe ordered on extort complaint

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama has asked the City Legal Office to look into the extortion complaint against South Road Properties (SRP) manager Roberto “Bu” Varquez.

Rama said he does not want to dwell into the matter because he would not want to sound like he is lawyering for Varquez, whom he designated to oversee SRP’s operations.

However, he defended the Kasadya sa SRP from the City Council’s critics who wanted to see a copy of contracts entered into with vendors and carnival operator.

“Before, ang SRP mingaw kaayo. There was an idea ug pwede ba butangan ug perya. Karon ni abot na ang storya ug contract,” said Rama in his press conference. (Before there was no fanfare in the SRP. There was a plan to put a carnival in the area. Now there are stories about the contract.)

Rama yesterday led the Kasadya opening. They started with a 4 p.m. mass. While the Kasadya program was ongoing at about 5 p.m., vendors also walked downtown Cebu City to officially start this year’s “Pasko sa Downtown” that will feature nightly bazaars.

The Kasadya sa SRP, Rama said, is now on its third year of operation and this is the first time that the Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) dominated council is asking to see contracts between the city and Kasadya participants.

“What’s needed at the SRP nga malingaw ang mga tawo (the people will enjoy and have fun),” said Rama who added that putting up a carnival, food stalls and a night market at the SRP is one way of dispersing people from Christmas related activities like the down town Cebu night market and the Fuente Osmena nightly entertain among others.

Rama said that what is more important to having a contract is making sure that carnival rides are safe and the fact that the carnival owner and stall owners at the SRP are paying the required fees to the city.

Councilors called for an executive session on Wednesday supposedly to hear Leonardo Noel Jr., a broker for Lecian carnival owner, Feliza Abayata, who accused Varquez of extortion.

But Noel did not appear during the executive session saying that he was busy. Shortly thereafter, he wrote Rama to withdraw his extortion complaint against Varquez.

Councilors agreed to again call on Noel and Varquez to an executive session next week to especially look into Noel’s claim that they were made to pay a P200,000 registration fee for their participation in the 2012 Kasadya sa SRP.

Also, legislators wanted to know if Kasadya participants entered into contract with the city government.“Okay ra man mo operate sila as long as they have the contract signed by the mayor and authorized by the sangunian and all the necessary documents,” said councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr., who called for the conduct of the executive session on Noel’s extortion complaint against Varquez.

Raquel Arce, Market Enforcement Division head, said that an approved contract was no longer necessary because the Kasadya sa SRP was a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP).

“The more reason that there should be a contract. How can we enter into a private partnership if we don’t have the contract?” Gabuya said.

Gabuya said any private individuals need a valid contract and the approval of the city council before they could engage in business with the city government./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac