Newsbriefs

RECALLS IN DANAO CITY

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Danao City will submit to Manila today a copy of the recall petition that Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. filed against his brother Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and the City Council.

City Election Officer Dominic Ian Marigomen will submit the Comelec Provincial Office’s report with the copy of the recall petition that Mayor Boy and City Administrator Jesus “Don” Durano filed last July 26.

Of the 33,000 who signed the recall petition, only 29,600 were certified as registered voters of Danao City.

Meanwhile, Marigomen said they are waiting for the official copy of the Comelec en banc resolution that found the recall petition of Vice Mayor Nito against Mayor Boy sufficient in form.

Under R.A. 9244 or “An Act Eliminating the Preparatory Recall Assembly as a Mode of Instituting Recall of Elective Local Government Officials,” the Comelec has to give a copy of the petition to the respondent.

The petition has to be published in a local and a national newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

Marigomen said he requested that the verification of 12,000 signatures be held at the Comelec Provincial Office. Observers from both camps are allowed to witness it.

Results will be included in the report that the Comelec Province will submit to Comelec en banc, which will then decided whether or not to hold a recall election./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

‘INCORRECT’ OPINION ON CIUDAD

THE opinion rendered by the Cebu City Legal Office supporting the planned Ciudad project along Governor Cuenco Avenue is “incorrect,” said a report by the City Council’s committee on laws.

Councilor Edgar Labella, committee chairman, said the legal office’s opinion contradicts an earlier opinion.

He warned City Hall lawyers in yesterday’s session about the legal ramifications of rendering the opinion.

“Is the issuance of the legal opinion not violative of the sub-judice rule under our judicial system?”

City Hall lawyers earlier issued an opinion saying City Ordinance No. 2193 does not prohibit the proposed P1.2-billion Ciudad development along the Banilad-Talamban corridor.

The report said that contrary to the legal opinion, the ordinance clearly prohibited development along the city’s North Development Zone consisting of barangays Apas, Lahug, Banilad, Busay, Kasambagan and Talamban until new road networks are opened.

The city lawyers said the development project is compatible with the provisions of the Friar Lands Act, which devotes friar lands for public use.

But Labella said, “It is highly debatable that development for commercial purpose was among the uses contemplated in the grant of the land.”/CHIEF OF REPORTERS DORIS C. BONGCAC

CEBU CITY TRASH IN MANDAUE

THE garbage truck driver of a Cebu City private firm was issued citations when he was about to deposit trash in the dumpsite in barangay Umapad, Mandaue City.

Adriano Alinsonod of barangay Umapad was with two other garbage collectors in the dumpsite when he was issued citations around 11 p.m. on Monday.

He was cited for illegal disposal of unsegregated waste, illegal disposal of hazardous waste and entering into a contract for a fee to dispose domestic waste in the city.

The first two citations carry a fine of P1,000 each while the third carries a fine of P5,000

Placido Jerusalem of Mandaue City’s Solid Waste Management board said the Cebu Solid Waste Co. truck collected Cebu City garbage, but the driver failed to present any transport and business permits.

Jerusalem said they conducted surveillance of the driver and four trucks for three days but only caught Alinsonod in the act.

The driver, said Jerusalem, claimed they didn’t intend to dump garbage in barangay Umapad since they are throwing waste in barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.

Jerusalem said the driver needs to pay the fines within 72 hours or charges of violating R.A. 9003 will be filed against him./REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS