Manila Council vows to block Alvarez at CA

The Manila City Council approved yesterday twin resolutions declaring Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez persona non grata and opposing his confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

The move to declare Alvarez an unwanted person in Manila triggered a debate in the City Council. But since the majority, which sponsored the move outnumbered the minority, Alvarez was declared persona non grata in Manila.

All councilors, however, who were present in yesterday’s council session, unanimously approved the formal opposition to Alvarez’s confirmation as member of the Cabinet of President Arroyo.

The City Council also named Councilor Jhosep Lopez of the city’s Third District to represent the council in the CA when it tackles Alvarez’s confirmation.

In yesterday’s session, members of the minority bloc initially opposed the resolution authored by Councilor Manuel Zarcal of the Third District declaring Alvarez persona non grata for apparently siding with the Pandacan oil depot, which the councilors want to phase out.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and the city government want the phase out of the oil depot within six months because it poses great danger to the lives of city residents.

Opposition Councilor Don Bagatsing of the city’s Fourth District, said "it would be a little bit too harsh" for the City Council to declare Alvarez persona non grata. He warned the legislative body of the implication and possible complication of the move.

"We can’t just declare someone persona non grata because he has opinion and view different from that of the City Council. We can do that if he did a great disservice to the people of Manila just like what international actress Claire Danes did," Bagatsing noted.

Danes was declared persona non grata by the City Council when she said "Manila stinks and is full of cockroaches" during an interview shortly after her visit a few years back.

Bagatsing said "such a pronouncement surely hurt and affected the image of Manila, she being an international actress."

The rest of the opposition councilors, including Councilor Edward Maceda (Fourth District) supported Bagatsing’s opinion.

However, Zarcal contradicted the opposition’s opinion, noting that "Alvarez deserves something more than being declared persona non grata, as if there is a word that is stronger than that."

Councilors Marlon Lacson (Second District) and Miles Roces (Third District) supported Zarcal’s view. – Cecille Suerte Felipe