City may sue Mary Ann and Atan over basketball boards

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor on-leave Tomas Osmeña hit back at the opposition leaders, saying they are the ones who are doing basketball terrorism in the city and not the other way around. In relation to this, he ordered Acting Mayor Michael Rama to have such kind of deeds recorded in the police blotter and subsequently file a case against those responsible for the illegal acts.

“Kay simple kaayo na, that’s pure and simple vandalism. Kung duna’y mukawat sa mga sodium lights parehas ra na. In the first place, if you are going to put your name there you need to get a permit from City Hall kay billboards are regulated,” Osmeña said.

According to the mayor, some basketball boards that were installed by the city government in the barangays were “changed” by the opposition and claimed them as their own without the City Hall’s permission.

He described the act of the opposition leaders as tantamount to vandalism and is punishable under the law.

“You know, maayo sila mo-twist og estorya. Ilang gitangtang ang basketball board sa siyudad aron makabutang sila sa ilang pangan unya masuko pa sila. Di lang na, ilang gilabay ang board sa siyudad, kriminal man na, that’s vandalism and that is against the law. Unya kami pa sa gobyerno ang terrorist?” Osmeña said.

The on-leave mayor explained that billboards, posters, and the likes, are regulated by the city and it is illegal to put one anywhere without a permit from City Hall.

South district congressional aspirant Jonathan Guardo and Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann delos Santos cried foul when they learned that the City Hall tore down their basketball boards.

Rama earlier said that Guardo and delos Santos should be careful with their accusations and warned them against tearing down the city’s basketball boards.

But during a press conference they have arranged, the two opposition stalwarts said that they will not allow themselves to be scared by the city’s threats.

It was reported that a basketball board put up by the city at Golden Valley in Lahug a few days back was being torn down and was replaced by the basketball board owned by the barangay as per order of de los Santos.—Elly Bolonos/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)