Leonardia ignores BAHA call for apology
BACOLOD CITY -- Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said that he will not apologize to the residents of Brgy. Felisa relative to the tension that happened October 26 when the residents conducted a barricade blocking garbage trucks from entering the dumpsite.
Earlier, Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance condemned in the strongest terms the alleged physical abuse and humiliation inflicted upon the residents of Brgy. Felisa by City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora and the Bacolod City Police Office and then called on Mayor Leonardia to issue a public apology.
"I will not apologize for doing good," lamented the Local Chief Executive after learning that the Anti-Baha alliance was instrumental in spreading leaflets against him in various cemeteries over the weekend.
Leonardia agreed with the sentiments hurled by Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Roberto Rojas that "it's now time for the city mayor to cut-off his ties with the Anti-Baha Group because it is very clear that behind them is his political opponent Lone District Representative Monico Puentevella.
During yesterday's press conference at the City Mayor's Office that lasted for more than two hours, Leonardia invited Bacolod City Water District General Manager Juliana Carbon who issued statement regarding the claims of Anti-Baha Group that Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) has five wells located near the open garbage dump and the new 7-hectare landfill property in Brgy. Felisa.
Carbon denied the allegation of the Anti-Baha Group relative to the five wells and instead cleared that out of the five wells, only one is operational and it is situated in Bangga Totong or very far from the dumpsite. She disclosed that the existing well is located around 3.6 kilometers from the dumpsite.
She further said that the Well No. 37, 38 and 39 is scheduled to be operational before the month of December. Carbon was disgusted with the news report that someone is putting words into the mouth of Baciwa officials.
Carbon was invited by Leonardia to shed light to the crucial issues surrounding the existing wells in Brgy. Felisa.
Meanwhile, the father of the nine-year old boy Joddie Macado who was alleged by the Anti-Baha Group to have died from severe dehydration secondary to acute gastro enteritis appeared before the press yesterday and denied said allegation.
Mody Macado appealed not to use the name of his deceased son for political motive because they are affected by the propaganda. He likewise said that his son died of cardiac arrest and not of dehydration when they went swimming at the river of Brgy. Felisa.
On the other hand, Mayor Leonardia defended that the human barricade staged by the residents in protest of the dumpsite was illegal. He said that before ordering the dispersal of the human barricade, he appealed to the Barangay Officials led by Punong Brgy. Peregrino Aspan for a meeting at the Mayor's Office, but the scheduled meeting was defied that led to the dispersal of the human barricade.