Rama firm on stand on road

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama is set to convene all city lawyers to discuss and plan the next step following the court’s issuance of a 20-day restraining order, which prohibits the city from demolishing a controversial perimeter fence along W. Geonzon Street at the Cebu I.T. Park in Barangay Apas.

“I am going to have a meeting with my lawyers. I need to reconvene them to discuss what will be our next steps,” Rama said yesterday.

Despite the restraining order, Rama said the city stands by the opinion of the legal office to demolish the fence for being a public nuisance as it restricts access to W. Geonzon St. from the lot owned by Filinvest Land Inc., which is undergoing a joint project with the provincial government.

“My lawyer has already made a position. I don’t want to add up, for the meantime, what he said is also my position,” Rama said.

He said, however, that he does not condemn the Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation for filing the injunction and damages against the city.

“Wa jud ko’y problema ana because that’s part of what they want to pursue,” he said.

The civil complaint was filed before the RTC following the October 17 letter of the city demanding that CPVDC explain within 10 days why it has not demolished the fence. – Kristine B. Quintas/JMO (FREEMAN)