Newks defends presence in Felisa last Sunday
BACOLOD CITY -- Bacolod City Lone District Representative Monico Puentevella defended yesterday his act of going to Brgy. Felisa last Sunday while the barangay leaders and residents blocked the entry of garbage trucks carrying tons of garbage collected from all over the city.
Puentevella said he went to Brgy. Felisa because as a congressman, it is his duty to prevent violence after his attention was called by some residents who were allegedly threatened by the police and also by the enforcement team of the City Legal Office.
He reacted to the statement hurled by Mayor Evelio Leonardia that he was politicking when he went to Brgy. Felisa and join the people's protest action.
Earlier, on Friday and Saturday, both Puentevella and Leonardia were together in two occasions where they shook hands upon the prodding of some church leaders.
Puentevella accused Leonardia of throwing the first stone after he deployed personnel from the City Hall and physically harm some of the barangay residents who joined the peaceful assembly last Sunday.
Puentevella said that he could no longer take the complaints lodged by the residents that the police and City Hall personnel violated their rights.
"The dumpsite issue has been there for almost three years and the city government could not close the dumpsite despite the closure order issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources," Puentevella cited.
Puentevella also questioned the city government on why they already paid P20 million for the Lopez property although the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was not yet granted.
"The people of Felisa has not been consulted and the barangay council has not even issued any endorsement for the establishment of sanitary landfill," Puentevella added.
He presented yesterday the videos that he did not bring bodyguards when he negotiated with some city officials at the height of the conflict.
He likewise challenged the city government officials to present the feasibility study of the Australian government and the Spanish government insisting that Felisa is not a feasible venue for the dumping site.
On the other hand, City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora denied reports that his personnel harassed the people of Brgy. Felisa.