Bejo files case vs PCGG regional director

TACLOBAN CITY — City Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romual-dez has filed a civil case against the regional director of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) for allowing the People’s Center and Library, sequestered since 1986, to become a trade fair site.

Romualdez asked the court to order PCGG regional director Renor Dauag to "lease the premises of the People’s Center only for the purposes for which (it) was originally constructed."

Four years ago, the city council passed a resolution preventing the PCGG to use the facility for a flea market.

"But the PCGG failed to follow this mandate," Romualdez said, adding that the People’s Center was built supposedly for cultural and educational purposes and as venue for seminars and assemblies of socio-civic groups and local executives.

"They (the PCGG) are not taking care of the sequestered property owned by our family; they are just after the income," Romualdez said.

He said he filed the case after students and civic groups called his attention to the use of the People’s Center for a baratillo (flea market).

In a five-page petition, Romualdez said he does not object to such a baratillo which "benefits" city folk but that this should be held in a more convenient place "conductive to such kind of activity."

He asked the court to rule whether "the mayor has lost his discretionary power to refuse the issuance of business permits" simply because the People’s Center is under the PCGG’s administration.

Dauag, however, said no law was violated when the PCGG leased a sequestered property like the People’s Center.

"If we will not do this, saan kami kukuha ng maintenance funds para sa building (where are we going to get maintenance funds for the building)?" he asked.

Dauag belied accusations that the baratillo was disturbing people doing research in the library.

The PCGG regional office is reportedly charging a daily rental of P14,000 for the building. — Miriam Garcia Desacada