Tomas denies allegations he’s harassing brgy Lahug

Mayor Tomas Osmeña shrugged off allegations of Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann de los Santos that he has been harassing the barangay by recommending the approval of a new set of barangay boundaries that would put big business establishments out of Lahug’s jurisdiction.

De los Santos protested earlier about the new barangay boundaries between Lahug and four of its surrounding barangays saying that when the city council approves these boundaries, it would reduce Lahug’s population and area as well as its economic jurisdiction.

Osmeña yesterday contended that De los Santos could not argue with the city’s move to take away deliberately from Lahug these big businesses or major taxpayers because she was not the one who brought in these investors.

“I think I’d give in to her argument if she brought in the investors. But she did not,” Osmeña said.

The new demarcation lines, as proposed by the City Planning and Development Office would give the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel to barangay Luz, the IT Park to barangay Apas, the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel to barangay Busay, and the Cebu Parklane International Hotel to barangay Kamputhaw.

Osmeña argued that he was the one who worked for Marco Polo to revive the Cebu Plaza Hotel, which closed down in 2005 when its owner, Pathfinder Holdings Philippines Incorporated, turned it over to Metrobank as foreclosed collateral to a P900 million debt.

Osmeña argued further that the city’s move is fair especially to barangay Luz because it is the latter that has reportedly been giving garbage collection services to the establishments along Archbishop Reyes Street, starting from the Grand Convention Center.

“Be fair to Lahug? Be fair to Barrio Luz! Ngano man muhatag ug buwis sa Lahug when its Barrio Luz that gives the service?” Osmeña said.

When asked if he would still put up with the same stand if he and de los Santos were friends, the mayor answered: “I may not have thought about it but yes, probably.”

De los Santos, for her part, warned that she will go to court if the city council snobs her request to reconsider the recommendation of the city planning office for the approval of the new boundaries.

De los Santos said the city planning’s action was unfair because it made the recommendation for new boundaries allegedly without proper public consultation. 

She described the move as a “blatant act of injustice, harassment, and intimidation” especially that Osmeña had endorsed the recommendation to the city council.

De los Santos subsequently wrote to the council to remand the recommendations to the city planning then order the conduct of a public consultation but, in last Wednesday’s session, the council merely noted the receipt of her letter.

The Lahug barangay captain argued that, under the Local Government Code, two requisites shall be followed when changing boundaries: First, a creation of an ordinance to its effect; and second, a conduct of a plebiscite.  — Joeberth M. Ocao/RAE