Letter to the Editor — PRA jurisdiction over Mandaue reclamation

I thought that my last response to your columnist Bobbit Avila would have closed the issue. Since then he dedicated three issues and challenged me to an answer. Despite the challenge I still kept my silence thinking that by this time he would have already read past issues of the local dailies including The Freeman. If he is resourceful he would have already found the answers to all the issues he raised. Hoping that he will put to rest this issue, for his own sake, I am making this response.

As to the issue whether PRA has jurisdiction over reclamation in Mandaue, the best answer is the letter of Mayor Ouano dated July 9, 2005 to PRA. To quote a relevant portion of the letter he said:

"... We are willing to cooperate and comply with PEA requirements to make the above-mentioned Reclamation Projects legal."

Mayor Ouano is right that the Mandaue charter was patterned after Danao City. Yet Mayor Ramonito Durano in a letter dated July 12, 2005 to PRA registered with PRA his reclaimed Fish Landing project and paid P128,400.

In his column (the other day) he made personal attacks against me. I chose not to comment because it will only prove his lack of resourcefulness. Using an alleged letter addressed to him, which by the way is an old trick used by some unscrupulous broadcasters, he made reference to my broadcast in my Kapihan last Friday that I attacked him below the belt. He can check with DYLA. I did not. I mentioned, however, about bar flunkers who pretend to be more knowledgeable than lawyers. Why does he take offense? Is he?

If he wants to be truly knowledgeable on reclamation, I suggest that he read the Supreme Court ruling on the PEA Amari case, Opinion NO. 70 s, 79 by the late Justice Minister Catalino Macaraeg, P.D. 3-A and P.D. 1084. Better still, he read the past issues of The Freeman.

When I was still writing with your prestigious paper, somebody advised me, if you are not sure with your facts better just write about philanderers and wife beaters.

(Sgd.) Elberto E. Emphasis