Leonardia: BAHA grossly misinformed about rally dispersal in Brgy. Felisa
BACOLOD CITY -- Mayor Evelio Leonardia clarified that the Bacolod Anti-Baha Council (BAHA) was grossly misinformed about the events that led to the dispersal of the people's barricade in Brgy. Felisa last October 26.
The mayor's statement was contained in his letter to the group in answer to their earlier call for public apology and their condemnation of the barricade's dispersal.
"The dispersal action by the police and legal enforcement unit was not a knee-jerk reaction. It was undertaken only after a stand-off of close to 9 hours and negotiations with the ringleaders of the illegal barricade failed," Leonardia explained in the letter.
Leonardia likewise gave accurate details that on October 21, 2008 or five days before the barricade was staged, he and Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Greg Gasataya conducted an ocular inspection of the Felisa Dumpsite and thereafter joined along with Vice Mayor Jude Thadeus Sayson, SP Members Alex Paglumutan, Dindo Ramos and Department Heads of concerned agencies at a public hearing called by the clean and green committee of Brgy. Felisa.
The public hearing was held at the Barangay Gym attended by 250 residents and moderated by the chair of the barangay's committee on clean and green.
Leonardia also debunked BAHA's claim that they treated Brgy. Felisa residents as "insignificant people" saying that during the public hearing the residents attended in full force.
Leonardia also cited that out of eight barangay officials, five have expressed their preference to keep the dumpsite, while only three kagawads together with the Punong Barangay want the dumpsite closed down.
Leonardia further stressed, "that since they have tolerated the illegal barricade for almost 9 hours and the picketers got the media attention they wanted, it was their turn to insist that they will obey the law and lift the barricade so that garbage pick-up services can resume."
Leonardia added that their insistence was accompanied by some amount of reasonable force because earlier negotiation with the barricade leaders failed to convince them to voluntarily dismantle the barricade themselves.
Meanwhile, Leonardia attached in his letter the copy of the Anti-Baha Council's previous letter dated January 4, 2008 demanding the city government to apply the full force of the law and punish accordingly those who violate the solid waste management law.
Leonardia expressed surprise that the group sided with the illegal actions of Brgy. Felisa residents contrary to what they have stated in their letter urging him to apply the full force of the law and punish accordingly those who violate the solid waste management law.