Aquino intervention eyed in conflict on waterworks

CEBU, Philippines - An official of a waterworks system in Barangay Tapilon, Daanbantayan has requested President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to intervene in the conflict with Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot.

Claro Benatiro, chairman of Tapilon Rural Waterworks System Association (TARWASA), had sent a letter to the President asking him to let Loot comply with the court order.

Benatiro said despite the court order directing Loot and the municipal government to maintain a status quo, she continued to defy the order and refused to return the operation of the waterworks system to TARWASA officials.

After Loot closed the waterworks system in Tapilon on April 25 for having no permits from the municipality and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), the court ordered a status quo.

But Benatiro said the mayor entrusted the operation to Tapilon barangay officials.

He then charged Loot and several municipal and barangay officials before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

He accused her of padlocking the waterworks system despite the court’s status quo order.

“Our question now, has the mayor after closing an establishment for allegedly no permit to operate has the power to give the same to other people that she wants?” Benatiro asked.

He said Loot entrusted the waterworks system to the officials of barangay Tapilon because they are her political supporters.

The FREEMAN tried to get the reaction of Loot but failed to contact her last night. — (FREEMAN)