Removal of ASEAN lampposts starts today

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will be removing the controversial ASEAN summit decorative lampposts from the city streets earlier than expected.

From the initial schedule on Apr. 23, Mayor Michael Rama wants them removed tomorrow starting from Nivel Hills in Barangay Lahug, Juan Luna Ave., Salinas Drive and Sergio Osmeña Blvd. where the 138 lampposts are installed.

The removal will start at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Personnel from the Department of Engineering and Public Works and the City Traffic Operations Management will carry out the removal.

CITOM executive director Rafael Christopher Yap said that the removal will not cost the city except for the fuel for the jackhammer and the trucks. Yap said the city has the equipment needed for the activity.

The lampposts will be kept at the General Services Office warehouse. Yap said they will stay there until the pending litigation involving the items will be resolved.

Yap said the city cannot use the lampposts while there is a pending case otherwise they might be accused of tampering.

The items shall be kept in a safe area to make them available by the time the court will need the item as evidence to the case.

“And in the meantime while we cannot replace the sidewalk, we will replace the lampposts with plants,” Yap said.

The City Agriculture’s Office committed to provide and plant the seedlings.

Yap said the documentation will be undertaken by the Public Information Office.

He also said the removal might take about a week.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has already given the city government the go signal to remove the lampposts on certain conditions.

Special prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit told CITOM that the removal must be documented on video while there should also be a corresponding report furnished to his office.

The lampposts must also be stored in a secure and sheltered facility where the items will be available for inspection at any time.

The office of the Special Prosecutor also asked the city to submit all the documents related to the items including, among others, the inventory report made by the Commission on Audit. (FREEMAN)