Aguilar nixes use of police power to fast-track Maynilad services

MANILA, Philippines - Las Piñas City Mayor Vergel Aguilar yesterday rejected the call to use police power to facilitate the entry of Maynilad services into the Las Piñas portion of BF Homes calling it absurd and ill advised.

Aguilar said such use of power was already tried in Parañaque and was swiftly struck down as illegal by the court. “It would be foolish for the city government to do something which has already been declared contrary to law and the Constitution,” Aguilar said.

The mayor is reacting to a statement believed to have been circulated by a handful of residents urging the local official to use his police power in allowing the entry of a private water service in their area. Aguilar also expressed belief that the BF-Parañaque homeowners are just trying to sow disunity and intrigue among the residents of BF Homes-Las Piñas knowing what they did was wrong in the first place, and that the proposal of BF-Las Piñas residents is a better deal.

He furthered that his administration for the past 15 years has always been consistent in protecting the interest and welfare of the city residents, earning for Las Piñas a reputation as one of the best managed cities in the country.

Consensus builder

“I am a consensus builder and do things for the best interest and benefit of all,” Aguilar said. “I do not want these people trying to dictate on me when they know nothing about good governance. I cannot allow them to use my administration for their selfish interest.”

Aguilar also pointed out that it is always his desire to facilitate and broker a win-win solution to problems involving the interest and welfare of the residents. In this case, he wants the water services issue to be resolved by striking a better deal among the stakeholders. He said it is just a matter of time that the cheaper proposal for BF Homes-Las Piñas residents, Maynilad and BF Homes Inc. will be realized.

“I do not want Las Piñas residents to be burdened by expensive water rates and long court battle like what happened in BF Homes-Parañaque. I share the residents’ common dream of cheaper and clean water supply that they were denied of for so long.” Aguilar said.

Meanwhile, Diana Quiros of the United BF Homeowners Association Inc. (Parañaque), said they are not aware of a letter or statement being circulated by alleged residents in Las Piñas City concerning appeal to the city mayor to exercise police power. She said that if members of the UBFHAI and even those living in Las Piñas and Muntinlupa areas ask for help, they will just be more than willing since they are members under the umbrella organization of the UBFHAI. – Rhodina Villanueva