Only SC can stop government infra projects — solons

Two congressmen warned local officials and state agencies yesterday that only the Supreme Court can stop infrastructure projects funded by the national government.

Representatives Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig-Pateros and Salacnib Baterina of Ilocos Sur made the warning at the start of the inquiry by the House good government committee into Cayetano’s allegations that Taguig Mayor Sigfredo Tinga had ordered his P25-million sports complex project stopped.

In fact, municipal work crews, carrying out Tinga’s order, had destroyed the concrete foundations for the complex, which is financed out of the congressional fund allocations of Cayetano and his father, Sen. Rene Cayetano. The Cayetanos and Tingas are political enemies.

Cayetano said under Republic Act 8975 enacted by the last Congress and signed into law on Nov. 7, 2000, only the Supreme Court can stop national government-funded projects.

He said the objective is to expedite the implementation of these projects.

"If we don’t follow the law, if even a town mayor can stop government infrastructure, there will be chaos in our country," he said.

Baterina, who presided over the hearing as good government committee vice chairman, agreed with Cayetano.

The Ilocos Sur congressman said he knows the contents of the law very well because he was one of its authors. The law’s principal author was then Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who is now Quezon City mayor.

Baterina recalled that Congress was prompted to enact it since agencies implementing government projects were complaining of interminable delays arising from stop orders being issued by lower courts and even local government units.

During the hearing, Supt. Simplicio Bayan Jr. Taguig deputy police chief, initially refused to admit that Tinga had ordered Cayetano’s project stopped but eventually relented.

He said he failed to prevent municipal work crews from bulldozing the foundations for the sports complex despite Cayetano’s request because he supported the mayor’s order.

He said he believed the mayor can stop any project in his town.

Baterina told Bayan that he should not have sided with Tinga since he knew very well that the mayor and his congressman had political differences.

The town mayor was invited to the hearing but sent word that he was in China. His father, former Rep. Dante Tinga, was present but ran out of time to speak. Father and son will be asked to attend the next hearing.