Barangay chief: Nothing personal in his opposition to demolition

Logon barangay captain Rex Novabos denied allegations that he has personal vested interest on why he opposed the provincial government’s planned demolition of illegal structures in Malapascua Island.

“I am not politicizing the issue. You cannot have a selective demolition and eventually demolish all the structures without plans for relocation. These are my people, I am duty bound to protect them,” Novabos said.

 The provincial legal office has issued a final notice and demand to vacate and demolish the six structures owned by Novabos, Teodola Sismoan, Marina White, Ladislao Rosales, Simon Buxton and Tedorico Rosales, all are relatives of the barangay captain.

The notice expired yesterday but Byron Garcia, Capitol consultant on security and chairman of the security and coastal protection of Malapascua Island Eco-Tourism Development Plan Task Force said that it is up to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia when to demolish these illegal structures.

Novabos has tendered his resignation as member of the task force last month amidst serious disagreement on the implementation of policies.

Novabos also appealed to the members of the task force which is headed by the governor to reconsider their stand on the implementation of the 20-meter salvage zone in the residential areas of sitios Barrio, Guimbitayan, Bool, Bakhaw and Pasil.

The governor’s brother further said that Novabos has a keen interest in the island as he received information that the barangay captain is the one running the power generator that supplies electricity to the entire island.

Novabos said that he is the one directing the operation of the Barangay Power Association, which went bankrupt early this year, but still continued to operate despite the losses.

“The power association is still run by its members. I am not the keeper of its records not its money. In fact naa na silay utang nako nga P100,000 just to make power operational,” he said.

He said that his brother-in-law, Gilbert Wolbright, who is a German national, lent a Nissan PD6 machine that drives the generator, when the original machine broke down early this year.

He said his brother-in-law charged nothing for this, but BAPA collects P40 per kilowatt hour from more than 200 households.  — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ