Ex-mayor of Rodriguez asks court to reverse decision

MANILA, Philippines—He was not taking away their homes—he was saving them from danger.

This was the contention of former Rodriguez town Mayor Pedro Cuerpo who challenged on Tuesday the Sandiganbayan decision which found him liable for graft and sentenced him to up to nine years in prison over the hasty demolition of temporary shelters put up by new residents in 2003.

Joining Cuerpo in filing the motion for reconsideration were municipal engineer Fernando Roño and barangay chair Salvador Simbulan. The three asked the Sandiganbayan Second Division to reverse its earlier ruling.

The complaint against them was filed by a group of people from Quezon City who bought a parcel of land in Rodriguez town and wanted to move to the area.

In their motion for reconsideration, Cuerpo, Roño and Simbulan said no demolition took place and that they just prevented the residents from building their houses in the area which had long been considered a danger zone. They acted in good faith, they added.

“The property on which the complainants wanted to resettle was a parcel of land in Rodriguez considered and declared to be one of the most dangerous areas in the municipality,” they said.

According to Rodriguez and the other officials, the property was situated beside a river and during the rainy season, the water level rises, destroying property and putting lives at risk.

The land was also undeveloped and required a proper development plan to be habitable. The quality of the soil and nature of the area would also result in weak and unstable homes, they added.